Keep in mind that Congress has rejected the President's budget and in most cases has set funding levels far higher than requested, especially for agencies involved in science and research, like NIST.
In this case, the House and Senate appropriations bills have funding levels for this account that are nearly $150 million higher than NIST requested. That makes a shutdown of WWV services unlike in FY 2019 as they won't need to make cuts to deal with a reduced budget.
Specifically, while NIST requested $573,429,000 for Scientific and Technical Research and Services in FY 2019, the House Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill gives them $720,000,000 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5952/text). The Senate version of the legislation gives them $724,500,000 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3072/text).
It's worth it to make our voices heard that we want these services to continue, but there is little actual danger of them being shut down over the next year.
73,
Paul, N8HM On Mon, Aug 20, 2018 at 10:05 PM Zach Metzinger [email protected] wrote:
Hello fellow AMSAT-ers,
Forwarding this important petition. GPS isn't the only way to maintain frequency accuracy!
The latest budget proposal to Congress includes the shutting down of WWV / WWVH. It is important for those who actually navigate, and for those who go to sea, it is of vital importance. Check out the link below and let's hope it doesn't get cut.
It needs 100,000 signatures by September 15th to insure a response by the White House and to date there are not many.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/maintain-funding-nist-stations-wwv...
It's simple and takes less than a minute.
- Visit the site link above
- Enter your name, email and clink on sign now
- Check your email and click on the verification link to confirm signing
NIST station WWV and sister stations are among the oldest radio stations in the United States, having been in continuous operation since May 1920. The station has transmitted the official US Time for nearly 100 years, and is an instrumental part in the telecommunications field, ranging from broadcasting to scientific research and education. Additionally, these stations transmit marine storm warnings from the National Weather Service, GPS satellite health reports, and specific information concerning current solar activity, and radio propagation conditions. These broadcasts are an essential resource to the worldwide communications industry. This petition requests continued funding of these stations be maintained into the 21st century and beyond to ensure future operations.
WWV has been, and should continue as an important resource to amateur radio. Thanks in advance for your support. 73, Bob AF5RS
--- Zach N0ZGO _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb