WASHINGTON– Five major national organizations representing a variety of industries are joining the GPS Innovation Alliance as affiliate members.

The Alliance announced that the American Trucking Association, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Boat U.S., the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) have signed on as Alliance affiliates. Each shares in the Alliance’s goal of protecting, promoting and further enhancing technologies that improve the lives of people around the globe.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the GPS Innovation Alliance was launched in February. Its founding members are Garmin, John Deere, Topcon Positioning Systems and Trimble. Affiliate members previously announced include the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

Following are comments from representatives of the newly announced affiliates.

Ted Scott, director of engineering, American Trucking Associations:
"GPS is important to the trucking industry. A robust and reliable GPS system enables drivers and fleet managers to select the best routes to guarantee pickup and delivery times, and to track shipments and fleets. It also helps save fuel by providing the most efficient routes. As GPS continues to modernize, we are pleased to support the GPS Innovation Alliance as an affiliate."

Curtis W. Sumner, executive director, National Society of Professional Surveyors:
“The productivity and precision benefits GPS provides professional surveyors are boundless. Virtually all surveyors use it for a growing number of applications that improve the national infrastructure every day.  The modernization of GPS is critical to the future of surveying, which is why NSPS is pleased to offer the GPS Innovation Alliance its support moving forward.”
 
Michael Toscano, president and CEO, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International:
 “All around the world, unmanned systems (air, ground and maritime) rely on accurate, dependable GPS signals. The lack of a reliable GPS signal poses a serious threat to our public safety and national defense, and this is why we support the GPS Innovation Alliance. We look forward to working with the Alliance in its effort to emphasize the importance of protecting our GPS.”
 
Margaret Bonds Podlich, president, BoatU.S. 
 “For anyone who has sailed their boat in unfamiliar cruising grounds, sought out new fishing holes, had to navigate in foul weather or simply stay the course in an unmarked channel, a reliable GPS system is a critical safety issue for everyone aboard. It is the only electronic navigation system available to boaters, and for our half a million BoatU.S. members, it must work every time, all of the time.”
 
Laura Marshall Schepis, senior director, Legislative Affairs, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association:
“NRECA is pleased to be a part of the GPS Innovation Alliance.  Electric cooperatives are increasingly relying on GPS technology as they upgrade and modernize the nation’s electric system.  The GPS Innovation Alliance can support modernization by ensuring utilities have access to the spectrum they need for these new applications.”