diff --git a/ndn-cpp/c/util/time.c b/ndn-cpp/c/util/time.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a794047
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ndn-cpp/c/util/time.c
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Regents of the University of California.
+ * @author: Jeff Thompson <jefft0@remap.ucla.edu>
+ * See COPYING for copyright and distribution information.
+ */
+
+#include <sys/time.h>
+#include "time.h"
+
+double 
+ndn_getNowMilliseconds()
+{
+  struct timeval t;
+  gettimeofday(&t, 0);
+  return t.tv_sec * 1000.0 + t.tv_usec / 1000.0;
+}
diff --git a/ndn-cpp/c/util/time.h b/ndn-cpp/c/util/time.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36b4dad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ndn-cpp/c/util/time.h
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Regents of the University of California.
+ * @author: Jeff Thompson <jefft0@remap.ucla.edu>
+ * See COPYING for copyright and distribution information.
+ */
+
+#ifndef NDN_TIME_H
+#define NDN_TIME_H
+
+#ifdef  __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * Use gettimeofday to return the current time in milliseconds.
+ * @return The current time in milliseconds since 1/1/1970, including fractions of a millisecond according to timeval.tv_usec.
+ */
+double 
+ndn_getNowMilliseconds();
+
+#ifdef  __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif