BoatUS recently cautioned that America's boaters weren't out of the woods yet with the possibility of the country's sole electronic navigation system failing as the result of radio signal interference issues from a newly proposed cellular broadband network.
The association said the Federal Communications Commission extended the public comment period to the network's proposed builder, LightSquared, allowing comments through March 16.
BoatUS continues to urge boaters and all users of GPS to submit comments to the FCC to ensure that the nation's system of global positioning devices keeps Americans safely on course.
"At every turn LightSquared has proven its resiliency to delay the inevitable," BoatUS president Margaret Podlich said in a statement. "This latest move is no surprise and we hope the additional two weeks gives GPS users the chance to have their voice heard."
Here is how to file comments to the FCC through its online comment form:
Click on this link for the FCC's Electronic Comments Filing System.
Select "Proceeding Number 11-109."
Enter contact information.
In the box that says "Type in or paste your brief comments," here are some points to select from:
Explain how you use GPS in your life - on the water, on land or in the air.
What would happen to your business/personal life if GPS became unavailable or unreliable?
Wireless broadband service is important, but it should not come at the expense of GPS.
All of the studies show that LightSquared's proposed network would cause interference and that there are no remedies.
Tell the FCC that you rely on it to protect the integrity of the GPS signal and that you support its recommendation to stop LightSquared's current proposal.
Click "Continue."
If the review page is correct, click "Confirm."
