Why does the US government pay for GPS satellites when the private sector uses them

[MusicJunkie]

300% more than them? (300% is a figure I got from "Modern Marvels" on The History Channel) I'm not just making that up.

Scott: Yes. I would prefer to only pay for a service I use.

[scott]

Why, would you prefer to pay a private company $79.99 a month for the use of your GPS?

[BuckOfama]

Many things we use started out as military devices/ functions. You are on one now called the internet, once know as arpanet http://www.dei.isep.ipp.pt/~acc/docs/arpa--1.html

The microwave oven came from military radar research, the first ones were called "radar range"

[raviet31]

GPS satellites were put into orbit by the United States for defense purposes. They pay for them, so they control them. Right now, anyone can use them ... even our enemies. If the government owns them and pays for them, they control them and can shut them down when they need too.

If we ever got into a war with a modern military like Russia or even Iran, one of the first things to go would be the ability to use the GPS system in that part of the world. The US military would have access, but civilians would be locked out.

Thus, we pay so we control.

[nothingconstant]

Without knowing the ins and outs of it....

It's probably in the government's best interest to own the satellites instead of having each company have their own.

1. It's a national security issue if you privatize GPS satellites.
2. If each had their own, you would have a big mess. Kind of like why utility companies aren't allowed to privately compete. Each company would lay its own lines, etc.
3. Is there some sort of leasing going on there?
4. Is there some sort of technology the government would rather not let go into the private industry?

Just thoughts.