Fact Sheet: US Global Positioning System Policy

The President has approved a comprehensive national policy on
the future management and use of the U.S. Global Positioning
System (GPS) and related U.S. Government augmentations.

Background

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 provides a substantial
military advantage and is now being integrated into virtually
every facet of our military operations. GPS is also 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 equipment and service industry that leads
the world. Augmentations to enhance basic GPS services could
further expand these civil and commercial markets.

The basic GPS is defined as the constellation of satellites, the
navigation payloads which produce the GPS 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.

This policy presents a strategic vision for the future management
and use of GPS, addressing a broad range of military, civil,
commercial, and scientific interests, both national and
international.

Policy Goals

In the management and use of GPS, we seek to support and
enhance our economic competitiveness and productivity while
protecting U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.

Our goals are to:

1. Strengthen and maintain our national security.

2. Encourage acceptance and integration of GPS into
   peaceful civil, commercial and scientific applications
   worldwide.

3. Encourage private sector investment in and use of
   U.S. GPS technologies and services.

4. Promote safety and efficiency in transportation and
   other fields.

5. Promote international cooperation in using GPS for
   peaceful purposes.

6. Advance U.S. scientific and technical capabilities.

Policy Guidelines

We will operate and manage GPS in accordance with the
following guidelines:

1. We will continue to provide the GPS Standard
   Positioning Service for peaceful civil, commercial and
   scientific use on a continuous, worldwide basis, free
   of direct user fees.

2. It is our intention to discontinue the use of GPS
   Selective Availability (SA) within a decade in a
   manner that allows adequate time and resources for
   our military forces to prepare fully for operations
   without SA. To support such a decision, affected
   departments and agencies will submit
   recommendations in accordance with the reporting
   requirements outlined in this policy.

3. The GPS and U.S. Government augmentations will
   remain responsive to the National Command
   Authorities.

4. We will cooperate with other governments and
   international organizations to ensure an appropriate
   balance between the requirements of international
   civil, commercial and scientific users and
   international security interests.

5. We will advocate the acceptance of GPS and U.S.
   Government augmentations as standards for
   international use.

6. To the fullest extent feasible, we will purchase
   commercially available GPS products and services
   that meet U.S. Government requirements and will not
   conduct activities that preclude or deter commercial
   GPS activities, except for national security or public
   safety reasons.

7. A permanent interagency GPS Executive Board,
   jointly chaired by the Departments of Defense and
   Transportation, will manage the GPS and U.S. Government
   augmentations. Other departments and agencies will
   participate as appropriate. The GPS Executive Board
   will consult with U.S. Government agencies, U.S. industries
   and foreign governments involved in navigation and
   positioning system research, development, operation, and
   use.

This policy will be implemented within the overall resource and
policy guidance provided by the President.

Agency Roles and Responsibilities

The Department of Defense will:

1. Continue to acquire, operate, and maintain the basic
   GPS.

2. Maintain a Standard Positioning Service (as defined in
   the Federal Radionavigation Plan and the GPS
   Standard Positioning Service Signal Specification) that
   will be available on a continuous, worldwide basis.

3. Maintain a Precise Positioning Service for use by the
   U.S. military and other authorized users.

4. Cooperate with the Director of Central Intelligence,
   the Department of State and other appropriate
   departments and agencies to assess the national
   security implications of the use of GPS, its
   augmentations, and alternative satellite-based
   positioning and navigation systems.

5. Develop measures to prevent the hostile use of GPS
   and its augmentations to ensure that the United States
   retains a military advantage without unduly disrupting
   or degrading civilian uses.

The Department of Transportation will: