Definitions for "Selective availability"
A U.S. Department of Defense program to limit the accuracy of autonomous position fixes computed by civilian receivers. The error in position caused by S/A can be up to 100 meters.
S/A - The intentional degradation of GPS accuracy for civilian use (S/A has been deactivated indefinitely as of May 2, 2000). S/A limited the accuracy of civilian GPS systems to 300 feet or less 95% of the time.
A method of intentional accuracy degradation by the Department of Defense (DoD). With SA turned on GPS accuracy reduced to 100 meters. Selective availability has been turned off as of May 2, 2000. The DoD has no plans to turn SA on in the future. Instead other methods of GPS access will be employed.