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Title 51, National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-102

§50112 Promotion of United States Global Positioning System Standards

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

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Congress encourages the President to take three steps to support GPS. (1) Keep GPS running worldwide and do not charge users directly. (2) Make international agreements so other countries and groups accept GPS as a global standard and remove foreign barriers to its uses. (3) Give clear direction and enough resources to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information so that office can manage and protect the GPS radio spectrum 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 51, National and Commercial Space Programs

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102