Jennifer
 
Many thanks.
 
The UK would like the following considered by the JTC 1 SWG A at the Brussels meeting (Agenda item 14, Future Meetings).
 
The UK is concerned about the clash of dates of the meeting of the JTC 1 SWG A with other meetings which is inhibiting our fullest participation.
 
Whilst appreciating that setting future meeting dates and locations is a sensitive process, the UK would like fuller consultation on the process to ensure that experts have the best opportunities to participate. We believe that the situation becomes self-perpetuating; an expert who cannot attend a meeting does not participate in the decision on the next meeting date and is often unable to attend the next meeting because of other commitments. We believe that setting a long term calendar of dates (if not venues) would be helpful. Perhaps, a web site with member’s availabilities and information about other related meetings calendars might assist. We also suggest that the JTC 1 SWG A considers implementing JTC 1 Banff resolution 19:
 
“Resolution 19 – Trial of Enhanced Use of Teleconferencing
 
JTC 1 encourages the utilization of the provisions of clause 7.11 of the JTC 1 Directives with respect to teleconferencing. To facilitate the use of this tool, JTC 1 extends the provisions of clause 7.11 as follows until the 2007 JTC 1 Plenary meeting:
 
• The use of teleconferencing is permitted for any subgroup of JTC 1 and its SCs.
• The restriction that an agreement on the use of teleconferencing must be unanimous is removed. Agreement on the use of teleconferencing shall be made by consensus of the group.
• The meeting organizer and host, in conjunction with the Chairman/Convener, are permitted to decide (with the consent condition described above) if a teleconference is appropriate for a meeting.
• All meeting materials must be accessible to all participants, and all meeting resolutions must be electronically distributed (via email or on a common website) before the meeting concludes.
• When considering the use of teleconferencing to support a meeting, meeting organisers should consider in advance the potential advantage to all participants. Additional consideration should be given to the impact of the timing of teleconference sessions for participants in different time zones, to those National Bodies which would not otherwise be able to attend the meeting and to the flow of the agenda in order to bring together local attendees and remote participants.
 
JTC 1 SCs are asked to inform JTC 1 of their experiences with the use of teleconferencing no later than the 2007 JTC 1 Plenary meeting.
Abstain: France”
 
While we have some concerns about this resolution relating to how remote experts participate and effective sound reproduction at remote locations, we did support it at the Banff meeting and believe that JTC 1 needs experience on the effectiveness of teleconferencing.
 
We look forward to the JTC 1 SWG A’s deliberations on this contribution.

Regards

David Keech
BSI
(UK ref: ICT/0078/06)