Fergie's Tech Blog

U.S. DOT Considers Shutting Down GPS Backup System

Networking Rule Number 1 : Always have a backup system.

Bob Brewin writes on FCW.com:

The Transportation Department kicked off a public comment period that could determine the fate of a Global Positioning System backup system viewed by industry officials as essential for communications network timing signals and electronic navigation.

DOT said in a Federal Register notice published Jan. 8 that it wants comments on whether to shut down the ground-based Long-Range Navigation (Loran) system operated by the Coast Guard or to develop a fully deployed enhanced Loran (eLoran) system that could serve as a GPS backup. Comments are due Feb. 7.

DOT said it is also working with the Homeland Security Department, which includes the Coast Guard, to determine whether investments made so far now merit consideration of eLoran as a complementary electronic system to GPS. The Coast Guard has spent $160 million on Loran modernization since 1997.

Chuck Norman, chief design engineer for network strategy at Sprint Nextel, said timing signals are crucial to the operation of complex wired and wireless networks. He said carriers worldwide use GPS for network timing signals, but they need a backup in case of a GPS outage or if GPS signals are jammed.

posted by Fergie @ 1/08/2007 02:52:00 PM