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3 August 2007
[Federal Register: August 1, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 147)]
[Notices]
[Page 42219-42220]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01au07-140]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
[RITA-2007-28836]
Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) Program
AGENCY: Research and Innovative Technology Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice; request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA),
on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), is assessing
the current user needs and systems requirements of the inland
(terrestrial) component of NDGPS. This assessment is in preparation for
making a recommendation to the National Space-Based Positioning,
Navigation and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee (http://www.pnt.gov) on
the need to continue to operate the inland component of the NDGPS
system, and to make a decision on funding the NDGPS. The assessment may
recommend other funding sources for future maintenance or enhancement
of NDGPS, or shared sponsorship with other Federal and non-Federal
agencies and entities, including the private sector. If no
transportation requirements or other federal user requirements are
identified as a result of the needs assessment, and if there are no
other Federal or other funding sources willing to sponsor or partner in
sponsoring NDGPS, DOT would develop a decommissioning plan for NDGPS.
DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management
Facility on or before October 1, 2007. Late filed comments will be
considered to the maximum extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by RITA docket number
RITA-2007-28836 to the Docket Management Facility at the U.S.
Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, please use only one
of the following methods:
(1) Web site: http://dms.dot.gov (electronic submission).
(2) Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-
30, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
(3) Fax: 202-493-2251.
(4) Delivery: Room W12-140 in the West Tower of the U.S. Department
of Transportation Headquarters Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice,
call Mr. Timothy A. Klein, Department of Transportation, Research and
Innovative Technology Administration, 202-366-0075, or e-mail
NDGPS@dot.gov.
If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the
docket, call Ren[eacute]e V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, 202-493-0402.
You may obtain a copy of this notice by calling RITA's Office of
Governmental, International and Public Affairs, 202-366-9664, or read
it online at http://dms.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 1997, the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-66, section 346 (111 Stat.
1449)) authorized the implementation of the inland component of NDGPS.
Federal agencies, states, and scientific organizations have been
cooperating to complete the inland NDGPS component throughout the U.S.
If completed as originally envisioned, NDGPS will provide coverage of
the conterminous U.S., Hawaii, and Alaska, regardless of terrain, man-
made obstructions, or other surface obstructions. This coverage is
achieved by using a robust medium frequency broadcast optimized for
surface applications. NDGPS currently meets all of the Maritime
Differential GPS performance requirements.
The completed NDGPS system would provide an accurate, highly-
reliable, dynamic, nationwide real-time differential GPS location and
integrity function to users that could enable multiple surface
transportation, other civil, commercial, scientific and homeland
security applications. More information is available at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/ndgps/default.htm
.
The Department of Transportation is evaluating the user needs and
system requirements of the NDGPS system. DOT is examining whether it
would be in the public interest to continue operations of the inland
component of the NDGPS system, or to invest in completing and enhancing
NDGPS by:
1. Completing the planned NDGPS Initial Operational Capability
(IOC); or
2. Completing the planned NDGPS Full Operational Capability (FOC).
If further investment is not in the public interest and there are
no other funding sources, DOT is evaluating whether to decommission the
inland component of NDGPS.
DOT is also seeking information about potential NDGPS sponsor
partnerships with other Federal, state and local agencies,
universities, and the private sector.
Future operations and investment decision scenarios might include:
1. Sharing sponsorship (program operations, maintenance and funding
responsibilities) across interested Federal, state and local agencies,
which may lead to completing the planned NDGPS Initial Operating
Capability (IOC) of providing users with coverage by at least one NDGPS
site over the conterminous United States (CONUS), as defined in the
2005 Federal Radionavigation Plan (2005 FRP), available at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/frp2005/2005%20FRP%20WEB.pdf
;
2. Sharing sponsorship (program operations, maintenance and funding
responsibilities) across interested Federal, state and local agencies,
which may lead to completing the planned NDGPS Full Operating
Capability (FOC) of dual coverage over CONUS, as defined in the 2005
FRP;
3. Transferring system funding and/or operations to the private
sector through a public-private partnership or similar mechanism; or,
4. If user requirements are not identified, decommissioning the
inland component of NDGPS.
In all scenarios, the Coast Guard will continue to operate,
maintain, and manage the Maritime Differential GPS system to meet
maritime safety, navigation and security mission requirements.
Contributing factors to these decisions are:
1. Whether there are sufficient number of current and projected
NDGPS transportation users, and/or other civil sector users (e.g.,
civil Federal, state and local agencies, commercial and scientific
interests) to justify continued system operation, or build-out to FOC
completion;
2. Whether there are sufficient safety, mobility, efficiency,
economic,
[[Page 42220]]
environmental, and other benefits to justify the costs of FOC
completion and future operations;
3. Whether there are other GPS augmentation or PNT services
currently available to meet NDGPS requirements; or if such services are
in development, when nationwide real-time deployment is expected;
4. Whether the private sector has or is developing the capability
to provide services equivalent to or better than NDGPS requirements, or
whether the private sector has an interest in assuming funding and/or
operations of the inland component of NDGPS;
5. Whether there are international considerations to the decision
concerning the future of the inland component of NDGPS; and
6. Whether there are interoperability or radio frequency spectrum
considerations to the decision concerning the future of the inland
component of NDGPS.
Specific to the DOT decision on future NDGPS sponsorship by the
Department, contributing factors include:
7. Whether there are any transportation operational requirements
for the inland component of NDGPS;
8. Whether there are existing uses of NDGPS by Federal, state and
local transportation agencies, other transportation authorities, or
private transportation and logistics providers and shippers, and if
these uses are critical to transportation safety, operations and
efficiency;
9. Should there be existing uses, whether another PNT or GPS
augmentation service could meet the user requirement; and the cost of
switching to another system, should that system meet the user
requirements; and
10. Whether there are transportation safety, mobility or efficiency
applications currently in research, development, or early deployment
which are dependent upon the NDGPS for successful application; whether
another PNT or GPS augmentation service could meet the projected
application(s); and the cost of switching to another system, should
that system meet the projected requirement.
The Department of Transportation seeks public input on the various
decisions currently under consideration, with an emphasis on NDGPS user
requirements and sponsorship opportunities. The Department of
Transportation also will solicit real-time navigation and positioning
requirements from Federal civil agencies and quantify any mission
impacts of conducting public business without the availability of
NDGPS. For more information on NDGPS, you may visit: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/ndgps/default.htm
.
Request for Comments
All comments received will be posted, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
and will include any personal information you have
provided. Please see DOT's ``Privacy Act'' paragraph below.
Submitting Comments: If you submit a comment, please include your
name and address, identify the docket number for this notice (RITA-
2007-28836) and give the reason for each comment. You may submit your
comments by electronic means, mail, fax, or delivery to the Docket
Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES; but please submit
your comments by only one means. If you submit comments by mail or
delivery, submit them in an unbound format, on white paper no larger
than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing.
If you submit comments by mail and would like confirmation they reached
the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or
envelope. We will consider all comments received during the comment
period.
Viewing Comments and Documents: To view comments, go to http://dms.dot.gov
at any time, click on ``Simple Search,'' enter the last
five digits of the docket number for this notice (RITA-2007-28836), and
click on ``Search.'' You may also visit the Docket Management Facility
in Room W12-140 in the West Tower of the U.S. Department of
Transportation Headquarters Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the
Department of Transportation's Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or you may visit
http://dms.dot.gov.
Next Steps for this Project
At this time, the Department of Transportation seeks public input
on the various options currently under consideration. The Department of
Transportation also will inventory Federal civil agencies on any
mission requirements that may require NDGPS, and identify mission
impacts of conducting business without NDGPS. After considering all
comments, the Department of Transportation will make a recommendation
to the National Space-Based PNT Executive Committee (http://www.pnt.gov
) on the need to continue to operate or to invest in
completion or enhancement of the inland component of the NDGPS system,
and on proposed sponsors and funding partners; and will inform the
public of the agreed course of action with respect to future investment
in NDGPS.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2007.
Thomas O'Donoghue,
Chief Counsel, Research and Innovative Technology Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-14905 Filed 7-31-07; 8:45 am]
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