[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42219-42220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14905]


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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 
[email protected].
    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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