IP: U.S. to offer satellite navigation

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2566182909-5b9

WASHINGTON (AP) - Global positioning devices used to steer cars, fly planes 
or find missing skiers and hikers will be given pinpoint accuracy 
previously available only to the military under an order President Clinton 
signed Monday. Until now, civilians using a U.S.-built network of 
satellites for navigation got a less accurate reading than the military out 
of fear that potential enemies could use the system to target missiles. 
Under the order, which took effect at 8 p.m. EDT Monday, the U.S. no longer 
will jam the signal for civilian users, but can still selectively block the 
improved Global Positioning System over any given region at will, 
administration officials said. The military will still use an encrypted, 
highly accurate version of the system for guiding precision weaponry such 
as the missiles used in the Persian Gulf War and last year's Balkan air 
strikes. See full story