The FCC is presently seeking proposals for realistic alternatives to the Global Positioning System (GPS), should it ever be compromised or attacked. The NAB thinks it has an answer, and at the NAB Show it will demonstrate its “Broadcast Positioning System,” or BPS, with the assistance of Sinclair and UrsaNav LLC.
BPS runs on the ATSC 3.0 technology that Sinclair has largely pushed, and bank-rolled, for more than 25 years.
In Las Vegas come Sunday, the company will tea with UrsaNav and Sinclair to demonstrate what they believe is a sold alternative timing capability. It uses the BPS and eLoran as a fully terrestrial solution to complement existing GPS services.
BPS is the technology developed by the NAB, enabled by ATSC 3.0, and the association representing broadcast TV’s big ownership groups says it can readily be deployed using broadcasters’ existing infrastructure and spectrum as soon as broadcasters complete the nationwide transition to ATSC 3.0.
What is eLoran? This is an advanced Position, Navigation, and Timing product.
The demonstration of what the NAB, UrsaNav and Sinclair have developed will take place at Futures Park (Booth 4042) in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“Broadcasters have long been essential to public safety, and today we’re proving that role is more important than ever,” said NAB EVP/Technology and Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny. “Through technologies like the Broadcast Positioning System, enabled by ATSC 3.0, broadcasters can deliver a resilient solution to support America’s critical infrastructure in the face of growing threats to GPS. Combining BPS with eLoran provides a resilient, frequency diverse, and wholly terrestrial alternative to GPS. We are proud to partner with Sinclair and UrsaNav to demonstrate how broadcasters’ innovation can help safeguard the systems that keep our economy running.”
Del Parks, Sinclair’s President of Technology, added, “GPS vulnerability is a trillion-dollar problem in the U.S. economy. Broadcasters can use their existing infrastructure and spectrum to solve this problem. We are excited to demonstrate how BPS can help secure the U.S. economy if broadcasters can move forward with a complete and expeditious transition to ATSC 3.0.”
