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IERS Message No. 40                                    February 13, 2003
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Colloquium on the UTC Timescale

28-30 May 2003, Torino (Italy)

Istituto Elettrotecnico Nazionale "Galileo Ferraris"
Conference Hall, Strada delle Cacce, 91, Torino (Italy)


Preliminary Announcement

A Colloquium on the UTC Timescale will be held at Istituto
Elettrotecnico Nazionale Galileo Ferraris (IEN) in Torino, Italy from
28-30 May 2003. The purpose of the colloquium is to discuss the future
of the UTC timescale.

As a result of issues raised by sector members of the ITU-R
(International Telecommunication Union - Radiocommunications) and a
letter from the Director of the Bureau International des Poids et
Mesures (BIPM) to the Secretary General of the ITU, a new question,
ITU-R 236/7 (2000) "The Future of the UTC Timescale", was generated by
ITU-R Study Group 7 (Science Services) Working Party 7A (Standard
Frequency and Time Signal Services). The question considers the future
definition and use of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in the ITU-R
Recommendations.

Any major change to the UTC timescale as defined in the current
recommendations has a potentially significant impact on synchronization
of communications networks and navigation systems and time distribution
performance. Accordingly, Study Group 7 Working Party 7A has established
a Special Rapporteur Group (SRG) to specifically address the future of
the leap second and related issues.

The SRG has held several coordination and technical exchange meetings to
generate, analyze and discuss alternative approaches to reduce or
eliminate the operational impact of the leap second. The work to date
has produced a consensual opinion that the SRG wants to present and
discuss with interested and representative parties. In support of that
purpose the SRG has organized a concluding Colloquium for deliberating
and drafting a recommendation to the ITU-R.

Invited presentations will be made by distinguished representatives in
the areas of International Timekeeping, Navigation, Earth Rotation,
Telecommunications and Internet Timing. These areas could be impacted by
changes in the UTC Time Scale. In addition, contributed presentations
will be sought to insure that additional viewpoints would be expressed.

Additional information can be obtained from Ron Beard, Chairperson of
the SRG (Ronald.Beard@nrl.navy.mil) and Bill Klepczynski, Secretary of
the SRG (wklepczy@comcast.net).


General information

Technical Program:

Ron Beard, Chairperson of the SRG
E-mail: Ronald.Beard@nrl.navy.mil

Bill Klepczynski, Secretary of the SRG
E-mail: wklepczy@comcast.net

Local Organizing Contact Person:

Elisabetta Melli
Istituto Elettrotecnico Nazionale "Galileo Ferraris"
Strada delle Cacce, 91 - 10135 Torino
E-mail: melli@amm.ien.it


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