WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the NAB a $744,000 contract to advance field testing of the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS) in partnership with Dominion Energy.
BPS is a new technology being championed by the association that is designed to complement GPS to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure.
This first-of-its-kind field test is part of the federal government’s broader effort to develop resilient alternatives to GPS for position, navigation and timing services. By exploring multiple backup systems, the government aims to ensure the nation can continue to operate safely and securely if GPS is compromised, the NAB says.
BPS uses NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) broadcast signals to deliver timing information to keep the nation’s energy, financial and transportation systems running should GPS be compromised.
“[The NAB] is honored to receive this contract to advance BPS, affirming the vital role of broadcast technology in protecting our nation’s infrastructure,” said NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “To fully realize the potential of this technology, we must achieve a nationwide transition to ATSC 3.0. We look forward to working with policymakers on a smooth transition, and to strengthening public safety and national resilience.”
As part of the contract, NAB and Dominion Energy will serve as core partners in a real-world field trial to deploy and evaluate BPS.
“With this field trial, we are further demonstrating how free, over-the-air broadcasting continues to serve the public in new and indispensable ways,” LeGeyt continued. “We are grateful to the DOT and the Volpe Center for recognizing the potential of our BPS technology to support national security, public safety and transportation innovation.”
Click here to learn more.
