diff --git a/adafruit_featherwing/gps_featherwing.py b/adafruit_featherwing/gps_featherwing.py
index 2948bef..bbf917a 100644
--- a/adafruit_featherwing/gps_featherwing.py
+++ b/adafruit_featherwing/gps_featherwing.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class GPSFeatherWing:
     """Class representing an `Ultimate GPS FeatherWing
        <https://www.adafruit.com/product/3133>`_.
 
-       Automatically uses the feather's I2C bus."""
+       Automatically uses the feather's UART bus."""
     def __init__(self, update_period=1000, baudrate=9600):
         """
         :param int update_period: (Optional) The amount of time in milliseconds between
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ def __init__(self, update_period=1000, baudrate=9600):
         self._uart = busio.UART(shared.TX, shared.RX, baudrate=baudrate, timeout=timeout)
         self._gps = adafruit_gps.GPS(self._uart, debug=False)
         # Turn on the basic GGA and RMC info
-        self._gps.send_command(b'PMTK314,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0')
-        self._gps.send_command(b'PMTK220,{}'.format(update_period))
+        self._gps.send_command(bytes('PMTK314,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0', 'utf-8'))
+        self._gps.send_command(bytes('PMTK220,{}'.format(update_period), 'utf-8'))
 
     def update(self):
         """