George Bush Runs The Internet

[Trippledence]

Anyone can use them. The only reason the US government doesn't tax/restrict those is becasue they can't. They just sit there and broadcast a signal. The GPS reciver jsut has to find them.

They could encode it or someting. Thers nothing to stop them thats the point. Even if its an on/off switch there still on control.

[iggy]

isnt the european space agency putting up its own system so that we dont have to rely on the american gps system anymore?

[Stoo]

Yup, and it's apparently more accurate than the American system as well

[Twigman]

GALILEO...
Was on French TV news couple of days ago...they are getting round to it.
IIRC 30 satelites and rather than being accurate to 10-20m as GPS is (realistically), it will be closer to 1-2m.
The big thing is that:
1. Its european not american.
2. Its civil not military.

GALILEO is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Anyway you can google for more obviusly if you are interested.
Its going to be better than the US...HA!

EDIT: also on the point of GPS, I believe that there is an encryted signal as well, so the US military can get it more accurate than the general public can. Although that may just be a rumour...I cant remember.

[nvening]

The US millitary does control and limit civil GPS. Galoleo will not be controlled by the millitary and will be more advanced, untill GPS is upgraded.