Selective Availability of GPS

25.10.2004

Submission:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release May 1, 2000

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

I am pleased to announce that, as of midnight tonight, the United States will end the practice of intentionally degrading signals available to the public from the satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS). Around the world, more and more people and industries rely on GPS for accurate positioning and timing information, for everything from navigation to agriculture, mining to oil exploration, telecommunications to environmental research. The action we are taking today will dramatically improve civilian use of GPS -- by drivers on the road, cellular phone users dialling 911, hikers and boaters, businesses and institutions. By enhancing existing GPS applications and allowing new ones to emerge, our action will promote the safety, prosperity, and progress of Americans and people all over the world. My decision is the result of careful review by our Administration. My March 1996 directive called for integrating GPS into peaceful civil, commercial and scientific applications worldwide and encouraging private sector investment in and use of U.S. GPS technologies and services. To meet these goals, I committed the U.S. to end signal degradation by 2006, with an annual assessment of its continued use beginning this year. Last year, Vice President Gore announced our plans to modernise GPS by adding two new civil signals. This initiative is on track, and my budget further advances this effort by modernising additional satellites.

Today's decision is based upon the recommendation of Secretary of Defense Cohen, in co-ordination with the Departments of State, Transportation, Commerce, the Director of Central Intelligence, and other Departments and Agencies. Threat assessments conclude that ending signal degradation at this time will not weaken our national security. We have demonstrated the capability to selectively deny GPS signals on a regional basis when our security is threatened. We will continue to ensure -- and to upgrade U.S. defense systems to exploit -- the full military utility of GPS.

Thanks to:-

Frank A. Amodeo

The MITRE Corporation