The GWEN system was turned down several years ago.  Some historical documents are included below:
 
 

GWEN Ground Wave Emergency Network

The Ground Wave Emergency Network (GWEN) provides survivable connectivity to designated bomber and tanker bases. The system is in
sustainment. GWEN is designed as an ultra-high powered VLF [150-175 kHz] network intended to survive massive broadband destructive
interference produced by nuclear EMP, and recovering quickly from the changes imposed on radiowave propagation by EMP-ion damage to the
upper atmosphere. A large number of the 200 GWEN relay nodes can be destroyed without compromising the overall effectiveness of the
system. GWEN antennae include an 8km trailing long-wire winched out of WWABNCP, and the DARPA /Westinghouse 750-6000m tether
Aerostat-Augmented balloon. The GWEN system includes 299-foot, low-frequency (LF) antenna and an ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) antenna
located at each relay node (RN) station, and a UHF antenna located at each input/output (I/O) station.

Although GWEN was designed to provide survivable connectivity for time-critical force survival actions, the configuration does not meet
required availability or reliability.

As portable Milstar terminals become available in the l997-l998 time frame, STRATCOM will phase out the Ground Wave Emergency Network,
which is the only survivable link to ensure launch of ground-alert aircraft. GWEN is Scheduled to be Replaced by SCAMP in FY99, but CINC
STRAT has maintained that GWEN can not be shut down until the replacement system is fielded, operational, and certified. If SCAMP does not
meet schedule, GWEN may have to be operational past the year 2000.

The Federal Railroad Administration, concerned with the importance of the inland navigation systems to support railroad real time positioning
activities, has suggested that GWEN sites be included in the developing of inland navigation systems. The Federal Highway Administration
has agreed to continue to investigate the utilization of the 54 GWEN sites for inland navigation.
 

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION/Ground Wave Emergency Network (1993)

          As reported, S. 1298, the National Defense Authorization Act for 1994, will authorize $262.0 billion in budget authority for
     the Department of Defense, national security programs of the Department of Energy, civil defense, military construction, and
     other defense agencies. A ban on homosexuals serving in the Armed Forces will be codified; the service secretaries will be given
     more opportunities to assign women to combat units; and military members will be given a 2.2 percent pay raise, effective
     January 1, 1994.

          The Reid amendment would prohibit the obligation of funds for the Ground Wave Emergency Network (GWEN) except
     for the payment of the costs associated with the termination of the program.

          Debate was limited by unanimous consent. Following debate, Senator Exon moved to table the Reid amendment.
     Generally, those favoring the motion to table opposed the amendment; those opposing the motion to table favored the
     amendment.

          Those favoring the motion to table contended:

          If we had not already bought and paid for the Ground Wave Emergency Network (GWEN) we would be more sympathetic
     to our colleagues' arguments. However, considering that all we need now do to maintain this system is appropriate $6.5 million
     per year, we see it as a very inexpensive insurance policy that we would be very foolish to tear up. The system was conceived as
     a redundant system, as our colleagues have stated. What our colleagues have neglected to mention is that GWEN is now only
     partially a redundant system, because the airborne system it was built to back up has been cut back. Our colleagues also seem to
     have a blind faith in the future peacefulness of the world. Thousands of nuclear missiles are still targeted against the United
     States, and we have no assurance that we will not someday again face a belligerent nation capable of launching a massive
     nuclear attack against us. If we scrap this system, it will take hundreds of millions of dollars and several years to rebuild.
     Alternatively, we can spend $6.5 million annually so that the system will be ready if ever again we need it. The most ridiculous
     complaint against GWEN is that it poses a health risk. GWEN towers operate only 6 seconds per hour, and at frequencies next to
     those frequencies used by AM radio stations and television stations. If these towers are shut down for safety reasons, then
     logically every AM radio station and every television station which operates at similar frequencies should also be shut down,
     especially considering that they operate for much longer periods. In sum, the GWEN is a safe, inexpensive communications
     system, that should receive continued support as a form of insurance policy in an uncertain world.

          Those opposing the motion to table contended:

          The bottom-line is that we do not need the GWEN, and we therefore should not fund it. Our secondary concern is that it
     may pose health risks. If any program defines wasteful spending, this program is it.

          The GWEN was proposed and implemented in the 1980s as a redundant system during the height of the Cold War. The
     purpose was to ensure that we had military communications that could survive "electromagnetic pulse" (EMP) radiation after a
     nuclear strike. From the beginning, the GWEN was controversial. Many experts thought it would not work, while others
     questioned the need for a redundant system. Initially, the plan was to build 300 GWEN towers, but, after opposition grew, this
     plan was scaled back to 125 towers. To date, 54 have been built.

          According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), terminating this program would save $41.2 million over the next 4
     years. Though in the Federal scheme of things this amount may not be much, we ought not waste even a little bit of money.
     What actually are we defending against? The Soviet Union no longer exists; we do not need an EMP-proof communications
     system because we are no longer threatened with a massive nuclear attack.

          A peripheral issue to this debate is that the electromagnetic emissions from the towers that have been built may pose a
     public health risk. Though the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has concluded there is no cause for concern, many
     scientists remain skeptical. The NAS did not conduct studies of the electromagnetic frequencies in question, but instead drew
     inferences from studies of other frequencies. Further, studies of possible long-term effects, such as for cancers with long latency
     periods, have not been conducted.

          Medical concerns aside, we simply ought not to waste money. Too many Government programs are allowed to exists on
     inertia; we ask our colleagues, in this case, to stop at least one useless program by voting to eliminate its authorization.

Some former GWEN Sites include:

Annapolis, MD ( Now DGPS)
Appleton, Washington (Now DGPS)
Erie, Pa.
New Carollton (Driver), VA (Now DGPS)
Flagstaff, AZ - GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Fayetteville, AR - GWEN relay node to Barksdale AFB, Little Rock AFB, and
Blytheville AFB
Bakersfield, CA - GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Styx, CA - GWEN relay station to be activated in 1985
Aurora, CO - GWEN relay node linked to Buckley ANGB
Buckley ANGB, Aurora, CO - GWEN input/output station
Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Colorado Springs, CO - GWEN input/output station
Pueblo, CO - GWEN relay node
Colby, KS - GWEN relay node using commercial radio tower
Manhattan, KS - GWEN relay node using commercial radio tower
Patten, ME
Columbus AFB, MS - GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Billings, MT -  GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Great Fall IAP, MT -  GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Ronan, MT -  GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Ainsworth, NE -  GWEN relay site
Bellevue, NE -  GWEN relay site supporting SAC headquarters at Offutt AFB
Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE - GWEN input/output station
Silver Creek, NE - GWEN receive-only site
Contreas, NM -  GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Langdon, ND -  GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Hudson Falls, NY
Minot AFB, ND - GWEN receive-only terminal
Canton, OK - GWEN relay node using commercial radio tower
Kingsley Field, Klamath Falls, OR - GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Johnstown, PA -  GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Clark, SD - GWEN relay node
Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SD - GWEN receive-only site
Windsor, VT -  GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Wenatchee, WA -  GWEN relay site to be activated in 1985
Cheyenne, WY - Gwen receive-only station
Herseytown ME, 23.55 acres, 2 miles SW of Staceyville and 15 NE of Millinocket on the old Marshall Merry Farm.  2 communications towers, concrete pads.  Off Davidson Road.
South of Bakersfield, off Old River Rd; portion of SW 1/4 of SW 1/4 Sect 20, T32S, R27E.
Walnut Grove #849; East Catlitt Rd & Fiddyment Rd btwn Lincoln & Rocklin vic SR85, SW1/4 Sect 36, T12N, R5E.
Fenner Site #871;North of Essex off National Trails Hwy, SE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of SE 1/4 Sect 30, T8N, R17E.