report of the action team on global navigation satellite systems (gnss)

for Outer Space Affairs, development <strong>of</strong> user information centres and web sites, and to take upprojects such as AFREF, ITRF, EUPOS, SIRGAS and similar projects to achieve such objectives.Members and observers b , c549. National or international entities that are responsible for GNSS and <strong>the</strong>ir augmentationsor are involved in promoting GNSS services and applications and that are eligible formembership or observer status in <strong>the</strong> committee are:• GNSS system providers: GPS (United States), GLONASS (Russian Federation) andGALILEO (European Union);• GNSS augmentation system providers: GAGAN (India), EGNOS (European Union),WAAS (United States) and MSAS (Japan) and o<strong>the</strong>r compatible systems; and• International organizations and associations dealing with global GNSS service andapplications may participate as members or observers. Potential members or observers dcould include <strong>the</strong> Office for Outer Space Affairs, <strong>the</strong> International Civil AviationOrganization, <strong>the</strong> International Maritime Organization, <strong>the</strong> InternationalTelecommunication Union, <strong>the</strong> Civil GPS Service Interface Committee, <strong>the</strong> InternationalAssociation <strong>of</strong> Geodesy, <strong>the</strong> International Association <strong>of</strong> Institutes <strong>of</strong> Navigation, <strong>the</strong>International Cartographic Association, <strong>the</strong> International GPS Service, <strong>the</strong> InternationalSociety for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and <strong>the</strong> International Federation <strong>of</strong>Surveyors.550. The addition <strong>of</strong> members will be with <strong>the</strong> consensus <strong>of</strong> current members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>committee.Development <strong>of</strong> user information centres and web sites551. Each GNSS and/or regional augmentation provider should establish user informationcentres. The maintenance <strong>of</strong> a web site would be a major task <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se centres. The UnitedNations, <strong>the</strong> international committee or ano<strong>the</strong>r international body should combine all <strong>the</strong> websites into a single site to act as a portal for any user <strong>of</strong> GNSS and/or <strong>the</strong>ir augmentations. Such ab The terms <strong>of</strong> reference <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> international committee would need to specify<strong>the</strong> roles <strong>of</strong> “members” and “observers”. While “members” wouldparticipate in <strong>the</strong> decision-making process <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Committee, “observersmay not participate in <strong>the</strong> decision-making and would provide advice whenrequested, monitor <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Committee and <strong>report</strong> back to <strong>the</strong>irlegislative bodies. “Observers” would not be expected to assume <strong>the</strong>secretariat role, host meetings and provide support to a permanentsecretariat that might be established. There should be, however, ameaningful role for “observers”. The definitions <strong>of</strong> “members” and“observers” should be fur<strong>the</strong>r examined, taking into account <strong>the</strong> experience<strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r international bodies, such as <strong>the</strong> Committee on Earth ObservationSatellites.c Consideration could be given to establishing a “Providers’ Board” within<strong>the</strong> Committee, to take decisions among system providers.d Regional co-ordination bodies, if any, could be included as observers.101