Working Party 7A (Standard Frequency and Time Signal) Meeting Summary 28 August � 1 September 2006 Geneva, Switzerland WP 7A met in Geneva August 28 � September 1, 2006. Mr. Ronald Beard of the USA presided as the new chairman replacing Mr. Gerrit de Jong of the Netherlands who had served in this position for many years. Registered for this meeting were 35 participants from Member States including Germany, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Korea, USA, Russia, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Syria, United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Also registered were the BIPM and Radiocommunication Bureau Counsellor for SG's 3 and7. There were nine input documents including two on the future of UTC, a report on the leap second adjustments in Japan, two concerning information for the ITU web site on time codes and SFTS radio stations, and one document on interference between LF radio stations. Mr. Beard brought the meeting to order at 1000 hours, Tuesday, August 28. Input documents were introduced by representatives of the originating organizations. Working Groups were formed to discuss input documents and other required issues. Included were Working Groups for reviewing existing Questions assigned to WP 7A, to consider the information available for posting on the ITUR web site http://www.itu.int/ITUR/study groups/index.asp?link=rsg7&lang=en extracted from Recommendation ITU R TF.583 regarding time codes and Recommendation ITUR TF.768 regarding Standard Frequency and Time Signal emissions, to consider inputs on time codes, to finalize a report by the Special Rapporteur Group on the Future of UTC (SRG), and to write a executive summary for the SRG report. An additional task of addressing the US contribution http://www.itu.int/md/R03WP7AC0038/en requesting that the SRG report be attached to the Preliminary Draft Revision of Recommendation ITUR TF.4606, Standardfrequency and timesignal emissions (PDRR) http://www.itu.int/md/meetingdoc.asp?type=sitems&lang=e&parent=R03WP7AC 0021, presently attached to WP7A chairman's 2005 report, be circulated to Member States and Sector Members was not assigned to a Working Group at this time as it first required the completion of the SRG report. This US contribution/request was strongly supported by the UK, the only Member State formally objecting to the PDRR. After the introduction of the document the WP7A counsellor informed WP7A that a preliminary document i.e. the PDRR, could not be circulated beyond WP7A according to ITUR resolutions nor could the currently in effect Recommendation ITU R TF.4606, be attached to the SRG report with an explanation of proposed changes since all ITUR Recommendations are only sold by the ITUR. The counsellor, however, did think it possible that the SRG report and its summary could be made available on the ITUR web site. During introduction of input documents representatives of some Member States requested that a decision for accepting or rejecting the PDRR submitted in 2004 be made at this meeting. It was noted that contributions on the subject had been received in 2005 and 2006 and required consideration before any decisions were possible. It appeared that if a vote were taken at this time only the UK would be voting against accepting the PDRR as attached to the chairman's report. By midway through the second day all Working Groups had completed their assignments except those concerned with the SRG report and it summary. Only by the afternoon of the final day was the SRG report and its summary completed leaving no time to address the PDRR and related contributions. This issue would therefore be continued to the 2007 WP7A meeting. Finally, WP7A assisted the counsellor with drafting a press release on its meeting. By close of meeting, the possibility of posting the SRG report and its summary on the ITUR web site had not been confirmed by the counsellor. The next meeting of WP7A has been scheduled for 1114 September 2007 in Geneva.