Title 51National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-73

§50112 Promotion of United States Global Positioning System standards

Title 51 › Subtitle Subtitle V— - Programs Targeting Commercial Opportunities › Chapter CHAPTER 501— - SPACE COMMERCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - PROMOTION OF COMMERCIAL SPACE OPPORTUNITIES › § 50112

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Urges the President to keep the Global Positioning System running everywhere, all the time, without charging users. It asks the President to make international agreements so GPS and its add-ons become accepted worldwide and so foreign barriers to using GPS are removed. It also asks the President to give clear direction and enough money and staff to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to manage and protect the radio frequencies GPS uses from interference.

Full Legal Text

Title 51, §50112

National and Commercial Space Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In order to support and sustain the Global Positioning System in a manner that will most effectively contribute to the national security, public safety, scientific, and economic interests of the United States, Congress encourages the President to—
(1)ensure the operation of the Global Positioning System on a continuous worldwide basis free of direct user fees;
(2)enter into international agreements that promote cooperation with foreign governments and international organizations to—
(A)establish the Global Positioning System and its augmentations as an acceptable international standard; and
(B)eliminate any foreign barriers to applications of the Global Positioning System worldwide; and
(3)provide clear direction and adequate resources to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information so that on an international basis the Assistant Secretary can—
(A)achieve and sustain efficient management of the electromagnetic spectrum used by the Global Positioning System; and
(B)protect that spectrum from disruption and interference.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5011242 U.S.C. 14712(b).Pub. L. 105–303, title I, § 104(b), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2852.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Finding Pub. L. 105–303, title I, § 104(a), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2852, provided that: “The Congress finds that the Global Positioning System, including satellites, signal equipment, ground stations, data links, and associated command and control facilities, has become an essential element in civil, scientific, and military space development because of the emergence of a United States commercial industry which provides Global Positioning System equipment and related services.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

51 U.S.C. § 50112

Title 51National and Commercial Space Programs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73