The Federal Register will publish on Monday (March 23, 2015) a solicitation for public comment regarding “potential plans” by the U.S. government to implement an enhanced Long Range Navigation (eLoran) system as a complementary positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capability to GPS.
The Federal Register will publish on Monday (March 23, 2015) a solicitation for public comment regarding “potential plans” by the U.S. government to implement an enhanced Long Range Navigation (eLoran) system as a complementary positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capability to GPS.
Comments are sought from both private users and industry on the following aspects of a possible eLoran service: the PNT applications and services offered or used, the PNT performance “required for a complementary PNT capability to support operations during a disruption of GPS that could last for longer than a day,” availability and coverage area required for a complementary PNT capability, willingness to equip with an eLoran receiver to reduce or prevent operational and/or economic consequences from a GPS disruption, current and planned availability of eLoran capable user equipment, and other non-eLoran PNT technologies or operational procedures, currently available or planned, that could be used during a disruption of GPS for longer than a day. Deadline for comments is May 22.
Public input is being sought as part of the Department of Transportation’s mandate under current U.S. space-based PNT policy that the agency, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), “develop, acquire, operate, and maintain backup positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities that can support critical transportation, homeland security, and other critical civil and commercial infrastructure applications within the United States, in the event of a disruption of the Global Positioning System or other space-based positioning, navigation, and timing services.”
The United States Government is currently investigating implementation of an eLoran system to serve as a complementary PNT capability to GPS. The PNT performance of eLoran would vary widely depending on the number of transmitters and monitor sites providing corrections to eLoran signals. The Washington View column in the March/April issue of Inside GNSS discusses the wider interest in and implications of a U.S. decision on eLoran.
Responses to the Federal Register notice should be identified by docket number DOT– OST–2015–0053 and sent using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: <http://www.regulations.gov>.
(2) Fax: 202–493–2251.
(3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M–30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590– 0001.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Persons with questions about te notice may contact Karen Van Dyke, Director, Positioning, Navigation, and Timing and Spectrum Management in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Administration; telephone 202– 366–3180 or email <karen.vandyke@dot.gov>.
