WWV Funding Restored, Centennial Preparations Continue

The WWV/WWVB transmitter site in Colorado will host
special event station WW0WWV as part of the WWV
centennial celebrations this fall. (NIST photo)

Congress has restored full funding for WWV, WWVB and WWVH, despite a budget proposal from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to shut down the three standard time and frequency radio stations. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 included some $725 million for NIST's Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS), the budget category that includes the stations' funding, according to NIST Public Affairs Director Gail Porter. The conference report accompanying the budget bill notes that "(t)he agreement rejects the proposed terminations and reductions for all STRS programs" and includes "not less than fiscal year 2018 funding" for several services, including "Time and Fundamental Measurement Dissemination."
 

With the shutdown threat ended, preparations continue for marking WWV's centennial this fall. According to the ARRL Letter, the Northern Colorado Amateur Radio Club will be operating a special event station from the WWV transmitter site from September 28 through October 2, using the callsign WW0WWV.

WWV and WWVH are also making timeslots available from April 20 to May 3 for the Department of Defense to request reception reports of communication during its "Northcom Vital Connection Wisconsin" exercise. The announcements will be broadcast at 10 minutes after each hour on WWV and 50 minutes after the hour on WWVH. It will reportedly serve as a pilot for future broadcasts of similar exercises. (Tnx WA2KBZ)