The international monitoring system comprises only those monitoring stations that are designated as such by administrations. These stations may be operated by an administration, a public or private agency, a monitoring service established jointly by several countries or by an international organization. The administrations responsible determine whether the technical standards observed by stations are in accordance with the ITU-R Recommendations and communicate the information to the ITU. It is to be noted in this respect that administrations may authorize the participation of stations observing lower technical standards in order to meet some particular need for monitoring data.