Role of the ITU-R in time scale definition and dissemination

Abstract

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is the leading United Nations agency for Radio and Telecommunications coordination worldwide. The process of managing overall frequency spectrum utilization is through Worldwide Radio Conferences, associated radiocommunication conferences and the activities of the Radiocommunication Study Groups. These Study Groups and their Working Parties, devoted to specialized technical areas, provide the mechanism for Member Nations to participate, study and recommend standards and practices to ensure equitable utilization and interference-free operation within the radio spectrum. An important underlying aspect of spectrum utilization is the facilitation of the determination and coordination of the international time scale. The international time scale is an atomic time scale used by broadcast services throughout the world known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). UTC is defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) and is maintained by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in cooperation with the International Earth reference and Rotation Service (IERS). Contributed measurements from timing centres around the world are used in the determination of UTC, which is adjusted to within 0.9 s of Earth rotation time (UT1) by IERS-determined values of the Earth rotation. The adjustments, made in one second steps known as leap seconds, were implemented in 1972 to permit UT1 to be recovered from broadcast values of UTC for celestial navigation. Current telecommunications and navigation systems utilize continuous timing for their data transmissions; consequently, deliberations have been ongoing within the ITU-R on the issue of modifying the definition of UTC to a continuous time scale.