Read these articles about the proposed elimination of radio time services WWV (Fort Collins, Colorado) and WWVH (Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii) in 2019:
https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-politics/time-may-be-running-out-millions-clocks
And please sign this petition by September 15:
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/maintain-funding-nist-stations-wwv-wwvh [petition link no longer active 1/21/21]
WWV continuously broadcasts time signals at 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz, and WWVH does the same at 5, 10, and 15 MHz.
There are many uses for these radio stations. For example, I have a shortwave radio in my observatory and use the WWV voice time broadcasts on 2.5, 5, and 10 MHz to make sure my GPS clock is properly synchronized, and also use it to set my computer clocks accurately and well as my wristwatch.
WWV and WWVH are an important and reliable “low tech” backup to the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation which can be used to derive accurate times.
Well over 50 million devices use the 60 kHz signal provided by WWVB to allow them to maintain accurate time, and eliminating this particular service would be devastating. Whether or not shutting down WWVB is part of the proposed budget cuts remains to be seen.
These U.S. Government radio stations have been announcing accurate time since World War II. We must do all we can to ensure their continued operation.
Mark Gingrich writes on the IOTAoccultations Yahoo! group on 22 September 2019:
Those who rely upon radio time-signal stations WWV and WWVH…are urged to visit the following website…
http://www.dodmars.org/home/wwv-survey
and fill out the survey.
The appearance of such surveys always concerns me as it may be a
hint that WWV, WWVH, and WWVB are being considered as targets for
budget cuts — or, even worse, elimination.
By the way, next October 1st will be the 100th birthday of station
WWV.