Fw: [mdrvmf] Fw: Will your GPS work when you need it? Act Now!

Uh oh! Jerry ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Lloyd E Roberts <ll… [at] sbcglobal.net> To: md… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 4:26 PM Subject: [mdrvmf] Fw: Will your GPS work when you need it? Act Now! Hi All After reading this article I'm forced to ask myself this question. Self, are you ready to trust your safety on long range navigation to GPS? After being in similar situations where man-made navigation aids failed at the most inopportune time, I am assured I'm not ready to trust the welfare of my yacht and the safety of my crew to such mechanical means alone. Yes, for me, this is truly an academic question; it is very unlikely that I should ever be out of sight of land. If you have long-range sailing plans in your future, I suggest a careful consideration of what is being said and how future developments can affect your ability to decrease the area-of-uncertainty along your voyage. Lloyd From: BoatU.S. Government Affairs To: LLOYD ROBERTS Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 1:09 PM Subject: Will your GPS work when you need it? Act Now! July 12, 2011 Dear BoatU.S. Member, As a result of a new proposal to use radio bandwidth right next to the existing GPS service, the future reliability of the GPS system across the United States is now in question. We encourage you to contact the FCC during a short 30-day public comment period, to help them understand the public’s need for continued, reliable GPS signals for safe navigation on boats, in cars, and for so many other daily uses. CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION Background: Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave conditional approval to a private company, LightSquared, to begin a nationwide broadband service adjacent to the radio spectrum used for GPS. After concerns from user groups (including BoatU.S.), the FCC required significant testing and a report for potential conflicts with aviation, cellular, navigation, and four other GPS uses before this proposal could move forward. In that June 30th report the navigation sub-team concluded “that all phases of the LightSquared deployment plan will result in widespread harmful interference to GPS signals and service and that mitigation is not possible.” For more information: www.BoatUS.com/gov In 2010 the US Coast Guard shut down Loran, leaving mariners using electronic navigation to rely solely on GPS. Now, this fast-moving threat to GPS could pull the plug on our ability to safel navigate within the U.S. Public comments on LightSquared’s proposal will be taken until Saturday, July 30, 2011. Following that, the FCC will make a determination on what this private company can do with this vital public resource. We ask that you take a minute today, as a boater and a citizen, to request that the FCC reject the proposed LightSquared plan to deploy a private nationwide broadband service that can cripple the nation’s GPS systems. Because it is not easy to find your way through the FCC’s comment web forms, we suggest you follow the link below. Our software will help you easily construct a letter, which will be electronically delivered to your Members of Congress and BoatU.S. We will then print your letter and hand deliver it to the FCC before they close on Friday, July 29th. CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION If you have any additional questions, please contact BoatU.S. Government Affairs at Go… [at] BoatUS.com Thank you for being a BoatU.S. Member! Margaret Podlich Vice President, BoatU.S. Government Affairs Go… [at] BoatUS.com 703-461-2878 x8363 DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. If you prefer not to receive BoatU.S. Government Affairs Alert emails go to http://www.boatus.com/gov/unsub.asp or use the link at the bottom of this message. If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

This is a serious problem. I just sent my letter off, thanks for letting us know. Here is what I added: Field tests of the LightSquared system in Los Vegas showed conclusively that it will interfere with GPS at which point the company claimed it could modify its system. The fact that they did not know they would disable ambulance and police GPS systems before the test shows their incompetence and should be reason enough to deny their application. In addition to the informed public, the U.S. Departments of Defense and Transportation are against this system. I urge you to stand up to this plan that will destroy the valuable national resource of GPS. Allen On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 12:46 AM, Gerald Sobel <so… [at] yahoo.com>wrote: > ** > > > Uh oh! > Jerry > > ----- Forwarded Message ----- > *From:* Lloyd E Roberts <ll… [at] sbcglobal.net> > *To:* md… [at] yahoogroups.com > *Sent:* Tuesday, July 12, 2011 4:26 PM > *Subject:* [mdrvmf] Fw: Will your GPS work when you need it? Act Now! > > > Hi All > > After reading this article I'm forced to ask myself this question. Self, > are you ready to trust your safety on long range navigation to GPS? > > After being in similar situations where man-made navigation aids failed at > the most inopportune time, I am assured I'm not ready to trust the welfare > of my yacht and the safety of my crew to such mechanical means alone. Yes, > for me, this is truly an academic question; it is very unlikely that I > should ever be out of sight of land. > > If you have long-range sailing plans in your future, I suggest a careful > consideration of what is being said and how future developments can affect > your ability to decrease the area-of-uncertainty along your voyage. > > Lloyd > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* BoatU.S. Government Affairs <go… [at] boatus.com> > *To:* LLOYD ROBERTS <ll… [at] sbcglobal.net> > *Sent:* Tuesday, July 12, 2011 1:09 PM > *Subject:* Will your GPS work when you need it? Act Now! > > [image: BoatU.S. Government Affairs] > July 12, 2011 > > Dear BoatU.S. Member, > > *As a result of a new proposal to use radio bandwidth right next to the > existing GPS service, the future reliability of the GPS system across the > United States is now in question. We encourage you to contact the FCC > during a short 30-day public comment period, to help them understand the > public’s need for continued, reliable GPS signals for safe navigation on > boats, in cars, and for so many other daily uses.* > > CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION<http://capwiz.com/boatus/utr/1/ONHCQDYDFM/LSXCQEFHFT/7120339766> > > Background: Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) > gave conditional approval to a private company, LightSquared, to begin a > nationwide broadband service adjacent to the radio spectrum used for GPS. > After concerns from user groups (including BoatU.S.), the FCC required > significant testing and a report for potential conflicts with aviation, > cellular, navigation, and four other GPS uses before this proposal could > move forward. In that June 30th report the navigation sub-team concluded > “that all phases of the LightSquared deployment plan will result in > widespread harmful interference to GPS signals and service and that > mitigation is not possible.” > > For more information: www.BoatUS.com/gov<http://capwiz.com/boatus/utr/1/ONHCQDYDFM/BLDNQEFHFU/7120339766> > > In 2010 the US Coast Guard shut down Loran, leaving mariners using > electronic navigation to rely solely on GPS. Now, this fast-moving threat > to GPS could pull the plug on our ability to safel navigate within the U.S. > Public comments on LightSquared’s proposal will be taken until Saturday, > July 30, 2011. Following that, the FCC will make a determination on what > this private company can do with this vital public resource. > > We ask that you take a minute today, as a boater and a citizen, to request > that the FCC reject the proposed LightSquared plan to deploy a private > nationwide broadband service that can cripple the nation’s GPS systems. > Because it is not easy to find your way through the FCC’s comment web forms, > we suggest you follow the link below. Our software will help you easily > construct a letter, which will be electronically delivered to your Members > of Congress and BoatU.S. We will then print your letter and hand deliver it > to the FCC before they close on Friday, July 29th. > > CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION<http://capwiz.com/boatus/utr/1/ONHCQDYDFM/KSRNQEFHFV/7120339766> > > If you have any additional questions, please contact BoatU.S. Government > Affairs at Go… [at] BoatUS.com <go… [at] boatus.com> > > Thank you for being a BoatU.S. Member! > > Margaret Podlich > Vice President, BoatU.S. Government Affairs > Go… [at] BoatUS.com <Go… [at] BoatUS.com> > 703-461-2878 x8363 > > DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. If you prefer not to receive BoatU.S. > Government Affairs Alert emails go to http://www.boatus.com/gov/unsub.asp<http://capwiz.com/boatus/utr/1/ONHCQDYDFM/ISBOQEFHFW/7120339766>or use the link at the bottom of this message. > If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here<http://capwiz.com/boatus/lmx/u/?jobid=191896938&queueid=7120339766>. > > > > > > >

This is a good fight to wage. I have taught navigation to boaters for many years. Every seminar begins with a 60 minute review of traditional navigation including a warning about the weakness of depnding on electronics. The attendees collective eyes ALWAYS glaze over with disinterest until I get to the "good stuiff." Personaly, I have yet to master celestial but I am certain it is a skill worth learning and will. The Salish Sea is all line of sight navigation for us but I've been offshore enough to want to go back. With a sextant. And a bag of GPS'. But if the Dept. of Defense is against this change, you can bet on the outcome. Cheers, Danny --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Allen Edwards <allen.edwards@...> wrote: > > This is a serious problem. I just sent my letter off, thanks for letting us > know. Here is what I added: > ><SNIP>