[IGSMAIL-5643]: Termination of Selective Availability (SA) on GPS III Satellites

[Slater, James A.]

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IGS Electronic Mail      20 Sep 06:57:21 PDT 2007      Message Number 5643
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Author: Jim Slater, NGA

For your information: Here is a copy of the official press release
announcing that the U.S. will terminate Selective Availability (SA) in
the GPS III satellites.

Statement by the Press Secretary
18 September 2007
15:32
WASHINGTON - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Today, the President accepted the
recommendation of the Department of Defense to end procurement of Global
Positioning System (GPS) satellites that have the capability to
intentionally degrade the accuracy of civil signals. This decision
reflects the United States strong commitment to users of GPS that this
free global utility can be counted on to support peaceful civil
activities around the world.

This degradation capability, known as Selective Availability (SA), will
no longer be present in GPS III satellites. Although the United States
stopped the intentional degradation of GPS satellite signals in May
2000, this new action will result in the removal of SA capabilities,
thereby eliminating a source of uncertainty in GPS performance that has
been of concern to civil GPS users worldwide.

GPS benefits users around the world in many different ways, including
aviation, road, marine and rail navigation, telecommunications,
emergency response, resource exploration, mining and construction,
financial transactions, and many more. All users, and their governments,
have a stake in the future of GPS. The United States promotes
international cooperation in the operation of civil global navigation
satellite systems and continues to work to build international support
for the protection of these signals from intentional interference and
disruption.