[LEAPSECS] Back to Basics

[Tony Finch]

On Wed, 3 Nov 2010, ashtongj wrote:

>

> The law in the US sets up time zones based on UTC, and contains the following:

>

>   Coordinated Universal Time Defined.--In this section, the

>   term `Coordinated Universal Time' means the time scale maintained

>   through the General Conference of Weights and Measures

>   and interpreted or modified for the United States by the Secretary

>   of Commerce in coordination with the Secretary of the Navy.

>

> ( See http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=h2272enr )


That is very strange wording, given that UTC is specified by the ITU-R but
only endorsed by the CGPM. Is it that the BIPM has a lot of operational
responsibility for UTC, and they are an agency under the authority of the
CGPM?

Tony.
-- 
f.anthony.n.finch  <dot at dotat.at>  http://dotat.at/
HUMBER THAMES DOVER WIGHT PORTLAND: NORTH BACKING WEST OR NORTHWEST, 5 TO 7,
DECREASING 4 OR 5, OCCASIONALLY 6 LATER IN HUMBER AND THAMES. MODERATE OR
ROUGH. RAIN THEN FAIR. GOOD.