Alliance cites importance of GPS to global economy and infrastructure; vows to aid further GPS innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship as well as protect, promote and enhance the use of GPS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citing the ever increasing importance of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to the global economy and infrastructure, a group of GPS advocates today announced the formation of the GPS Innovation Alliance, an organization dedicated to furthering GPS innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Members of the Alliance are drawn from a wide variety of fields and businesses reliant on GPS. These include manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, construction, transportation, first responders and surveying and mapping. Still others are organizations representing consumers who depend on GPS for boating and other outdoor activities, and in their automobiles, smartphones and tablets.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the GPS Innovation Alliance welcomes affiliates who share in the goal of protecting, promoting and further enhancing one of the world’s most important enabling technologies – technologies that improve the lives of people around the globe.

The Alliance will build on the proud heritage and extensive expertise of the United States GPS Industry Council (USGIC), which was formed in 1991 to promote broader commercial applications of GPS and to expand global markets while assisting in safeguarding the technology’s military advantages. The Council has a long history of highly effective advocacy on behalf of the GPS industry, as well as serving as a trusted source of objective information for policy makers, the media and the public both in the U.S. and around the world.

Two long-time members of the USGIC, NovAtel Inc. and Topcon Positioning Systems, join John Deere, Garmin and Trimble as founding members of the Alliance.

Affiliate members include the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

Following is a sampling of comments from representatives of some of the companies that are founding members of the Alliance.

Mark N. Lewellen, Spectrum Manager, John Deere:

“GPS plays a critical role in Deere’s agriculture, construction and forestry businesses in the U.S. and around the world. It helps to increase the efficiency and productivity of our customers and is an important part of Deere’s FarmSight and WorkSight strategies.  In supporting the new GPS Innovation Alliance, Deere continues its commitment to protecting, promoting and enhancing the use of GPS, both now and well into the future.”

Scott Burgett, Director, GNSS & Software Technology, Garmin International:

“GPS and its many uses and innovations are essential and ubiquitous to the lives of Americans and the American economy. Garmin is pleased to be a founding member of the GPS Innovation Alliance and help bring that message to policy makers in Washington and around the country. Garmin looks forward to working with the Innovation Alliance as we move forward together to preserve and grow this critical infrastructure.”

Jim Kirkland, Vice President and General Counsel, Trimble:

“GPS has a rich history of technological innovation. From its infancy just over 30 years ago, the GPS of today is a highly innovative, successful and increasingly ubiquitous technology that is critical to smart infrastructure, services and applications.  The Alliance is committed to ensuring constructive, robust dialog between GPS users, manufacturers and policy makers on critical policy issues affecting GPS – a commitment Trimble is pleased to be a part of as the industry continues to innovate and modernize.”

The GPS Innovation Alliance launches today with a reception on Capitol Hill. The newly launched website can be viewed at www.gpsalliance.org.