Hi tweeters,

Remembering an old thread on GPS, here's a new press release:

> ADDITIONAL CIVIL CODED SIGNALS ON FUTURE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
>SATELLITES
>
>The Interagency Global Positioning System Executive Board (IGEB) announced
>today a decision to place expanded civil capabilities on future Global
>Positioning System (GPS) satellites. A new civil signal will be added to the
>current military GPS L2 signal. This additional signal will provide
>significant improvements in GPS positioning and navigation services to
>worldwide users.
>
>Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen said, "This IGEB decision reinforces
>the continuing U. S. commitment to provide the most capable, efficient and
>reliable satellite navigation system for use by all the world's nations well
>into the 21st century."
>
>In addition to reaching a decision on the second civil coded signal, the IGEB
>recognized that civil GPS users can benefit from the implementation of a
>third coded signal. Consequently, the IGEB further directed that efforts
>continue to define an additional frequency in the L band for a third coded
>civil GPS signal. Although no decision has been made for the location of the
>third frequency, the IGEB did indicate that the areas of interest are in the
>proximity of the current frequency allocations used by GPS.
>
> The IGEB will finalize the configuration for the additional civil GPS
>signals early this fall in order to support GPS satellite contract timelines.
>To assist the IGEB in this effort, the U.S. Air Force is working closely
>with civil agencies in completing GPS modernization analyses. This effort is
>focused on making enhancements to the system to improve GPS services for both
>civil and military users. The addition of these frequencies will greatly
>enhance the accuracy, reliability, and robustness of the civilian GPS
>service.
>
>The IGEB was established to implement President Clinton's GPS policy, and is
>jointly chaired by Jacques Gansler, the under secretary of Defense for
>Acquisition and Technology, and Mortimer Downey, the deputy secretary of
>Transportation.

Bruce Helmboldt