[LEAPSECS] Get off my lawn!

[Steve Allen]

On Fri 2011-06-17T10:19:09 -0700, Steve Allen hath writ:

> Here's something I missed until today: CCTF/09-38

> http://www.bipm.org/cc/CCTF/Allowed/18/CCTF_09-38_CGPM-ITU-resp.pdf

>       the CIPM advises the 24th CGPM that henceforth the CGPM should

>       assume responsibility for the definition of international time

>       scales while the ITU continues its intergovernmental

>       regulatory activities regarding the radio dissemination of

>       precise time and frequency signals


The discussion of that draft recommendation is in
http://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/CCTF18.pdf

    Dr Gill conveyed the position of the UK Government that
    responsibility for definition and governance of time scales should
    remain with the ITU.

    A key concern raised in general discussion was that in practice,
    definition of time scales includes not only technical but also
    regulatory and other aspects.  Dr Arias expressed the opinion that
    the ITU may not be the ideal forum to discuss technical issues,
    and Dr Cordara similarly recommended that UTC be under the
    technical jurisdiction of the CCTF.  In response, Dr Beard pointed
    out that regulatory and related activities are also key issues for
    definition of time scales, and that the ITU is an international
    treaty organization with regulatory functions.  Both Dr Beard and
    Dr Bauch expressed doubt that full responsibility for UTC could
    make the transition from the regulatory structure of the ITU to
    the CGPM.  Dr Levine and Dr McCarthy argued moreover for a formal
    separation between technical and other aspects, and for the CCTF
    to retain its primary focus as a technical body.

    The President summarized the discussion by noting that the CCTF
    was not yet ready to endorse the draft recommendation.  Although
    the BIPM retains technical responsibility for the implementation
    of UTC, further consultation is needed between the BIPM and ITU to
    clarify and develop responsibilities in this area.

These turf wars meant that the draft was not sent to the CIPM and
will not be on the agenda when the CGPM meets later this year, so
the ITU-R WRC in early 2012 has been left in the position of making
the next move.

--
Steve Allen                 <sla at ucolick.org>                WGS-84 (GPS)
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