U.S. Policy Statement Regarding GPS Availability, March 21, 2003

• The United States Government recognizes that GPS navigation systems play a key role around the world as part of the global information infrastructure and takes seriously the responsibility to provide the best possible service to civil and commercial users worldwide. This is as true in times of conflict as it is in times of peace.
• The U.S. Government also maintains the capability to prevent hostile use of GPS navigation systems and its augmentations while retaining a military advantage in a theater of operations without disrupting or degrading civilian uses outside the theater of operations.
• We believe we can ensure that GPS navigation systems continue to be available as an invaluable global utility at all times, while at the same time, protecting U.S. and coalition security requirements.

General Information on GPS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) was designed as a dual-use system with the primary purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of U.S. and allied military forces. GPS is rapidly becoming an integral component of the emerging Global Information Infrastructure, with applications ranging from mapping and surveying to international air traffic management and global change research. The growing demand from military, civil, commercial, and scientific users has generated a U.S. commercial GPS navigation systems equipment and service industry that leads the world. Augmentations to enhance basic GPS services could further expand these civil and commercial markets.

GPS is managed by the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee, supported by the PNT Executive Secretariat (http://www.pnt.gov). The PNT manages GPS and U.S. Government augmentations to GPS, consistent with national policy, to support and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness and productivity while protecting national security and foreign policy interests.

The basic GPS is defined as the constellation of satellites, the navigation payloads which produce the GPS navigation systems signals, ground stations, data links, and associated command and control facilities which are operated and maintained by the Department of Defense; the Standard Positioning Service (SPS) as the civil and commercial service provided by the basic GPS; and augmentations as those systems based on the GPS that provide real-time accuracy greater than the SPS. GPS permits land, sea, and airborne users to determine their three dimensional position, velocity, and time, 24 hours a day in all weather, anywhere in the world.

Ref:  USCG Center for Navigation Excellence:  http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/default.htm