Additional GPS Signals Show Commitment to Civilian Users, Increase
Opportunities
WASHINGTON, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Global Positioning System Industry Council (USGIC)
welcomed Vice President Gore's announcement that two new civilian signals will be provided by the satellite-based US Global
Positioning System (GPS).
''The decision to add two new civilian GPS signals demonstrates the U.S. Government's long-term commitment to promoting
GPS as a global standard for navigation, positioning, and timing in support of both Presidential and Congressional policy,'' said
Charles R. Trimble, Chairman of the USGIC and President and CEO of Trimble. ''We believe that this decision sets the stage
for continued technical evolution of GPS, and its augmentations, to meet the dynamic needs of users worldwide.''
According to the White House press release announcing the decision, one of the new signals will be located near the frequency
of the current GPS L2 signal. The frequency for the third civil signal remains to be defined over the next several months.
''Today information technologies arrive at a rapid rate. Sustaining growth long-term is the real challenge,'' said Charles
Boesenberg, USGIC Director and President and CEO of Magellan, Inc. ''This decision demonstrates that a stable
policy-making process exists and is one that can handle future challenges. GPS continues to be a model success story as a
result of careful policy decisions such as this announcement by the Vice President today,'' Boesenberg added. According to
USGIC Director Paul A. Rauschelbach, Vice President of Technology, Space and Aviation Control for Honeywell Inc.
[NYSE:HON - news], ''Immediate beneficiaries will be public safety of the international aviation and maritime user
communities. The real significance is that users worldwide can be confident that GPS will continue to grow and evolve to meet
their needs as a global information utility.''
USGIC members include GPS satellite manufacturers, military and commercial receiver manufacturers, GPS user associations,
educational institutions and affiliate member government agencies.
USGIC seeks to promote broad commercial use of GPS, while safeguarding the military advantage, and serves as a technical
information resource to government agencies and legislative offices worldwide.
USGIC offices are located at 1100 Connecticut Ave., NW; Suite 520; Washington, DC 20036; Tel.: 202-862-0135, FAX
202-862-3929 |
