A group of nine Chinese satellites carrying ham radio payloads that were scheduled to launch in early September were causing a great deal of concern in mid-August because their operating frequencies apparently were not in line with International Amateur Radio Union standards and there were fears of possible interference with land-based uses as well the voice and slow-scan TV downlinks from the International Space Station. IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, said talks were ongoing "with the parties involved" in an effort to resolve the potential conflicts prior to launch. At press time, the outcome of those talks was not known.