---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Elizabeth Oluoch via Internet Society <Mail@connectedcommunity.org> Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:09:26 +0000 Subject: Open Forum : ITU periodic review of the ITRs in 2017 To: otieno.barrack@gmail.com == Please, reply above this line == Dear Members, As you may be aware, the ITU will begin a review of the International Telecommunication Regulations <https://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Pages/itrs.aspx> (ITRs) next year through an Expert Group on the ITRs <https://www.itu.int/en/council/eg-itrs/Pages/default.aspx> (EG-ITR). The first meeting of this group will take place in Geneva on February 9-10. The Members of the ITU Council <https://www.itu.int/en/council/Pages/members.aspx> called for this review in Council Resolution 1379 (attached) based on guidance from 2014 Plenipotentiary Conference, Resolution 146 on the Periodic review and revision of the ITRs. The review will begin in 2017 and will take into account new trends in telecommunications/ICT, emerging issues and obstacles that may arise from the implementation of the 2012 ITRs and WCIT-12 Resolutions and Recommendations. Key aspects of the EG-ITR: the EG-ITR is open to Member States and Sector Members and contributions will be accepted from both groups including from the Directors of the three Bureaus by January 25th; the EG-ITR will be chaired by Fernando Borjn (Mexico), the Chairman of ITU Plenipotentiary 2010 and 6 Vice Chairs <https://www.itu.int/en/council/Pages/proposed-VC.aspx>, one from each region; the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EG-ITR are defined by Council Resolution 1379 on EG-ITRs (see attachment).The ToR state that the review should include among others: a). an examination of the 2012 ITRs to determine its applicability in a rapidly evolving international telecommunication environment, taking into account technology, services and existing multilateral and international legal obligations as well as changes in the scope of domestic regulatory regimes; b). Legal analyses of the 2012 ITRs; c). Analyses of any potential conflicts between the obligations of signatories to the 2012 ITRs and signatories to the 1988 ITRs with respect to implementation of the provisions of the 1988 and the 2012 ITRs. the EG-ITR will submit a progress report to the 2017 Session of ITU Council and a final report to the 2018 Session of ITU Council (18-27 April 2018). Following Councils examination, the final EG-ITR report will be submitted with any of Councils comments to Plenipotentiary 2018 where ITU Members will determine whether or not an update or revision is needed to the 2012 ITRs. ISOCs role/perspectives: A key question surrounding the ITR review is whether it will re-open some of the debates on the expansion of the treaty to include regulations of the Internet. The Internet Societys perspective is that the ITRs should help facilitate global telecommunications and should not interfere with the continued innovation and evolution of telecommunications networks and the Internet. And so it is worth considering whether stirring up some of the controversial issues is a desirable trajectory for a treaty where consensus will be important. As a Sector Member of the ITU, we plan to be engaged in and follow this process to review the existing ITRs. ITU Resolution 146 (Rev. Busan 2014) and Council Resolution 1379 both set out clear guidelines on the scope and mandate of the EG-ITR; it will be important that the work of this group remain within these boundaries. Furthermore, the openness and transparency in this process is crucial for the legitimacy of the outcome. We hope that the review process is open and transparent and that it fosters dialogue and collaboration in order to find common solutions and share best practices. About the ITRs: The ITRs are a binding treaty that was adopted at the 1988 World Administrative Telegraph and Telephone Conference (WATTC-88) and came into force in 1990. The ITRs set out the rules for the exchange of telecommunications traffic across borders with the goal of promoting international interconnection and interoperability. A revision to the 1988 ITRs occurred in 2012 at the World Conference on International Telecommunication (WCIT) in Dubai. Some of the amendments that were perceived by some Member States as expanding the ITUs role in Internet governance were not accepted by those states, with the result that 89 of the 114 Member States <https://www.itu.int/osg/wcit-12/highlights/signatories.html> present signed the ITRs and 55 Member States refused to sign. Depending on inputs from the ITU membership, the ITR review process might also consider some of the limitations that may motivate non-signatories not to accede to the 2012 ITRs as well as those that motivated Member States not to sign. Useful Links: 1988 International Telecommunication Regulations <https://www.itu.int/pub/T-REG-ACT-1988> 2012 International Telecommunication Regulations <https://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Documents/final-acts-wcit-12.pdf> Treaty Signing Process Explained <https://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Pages/treaties-signing.aspx> We will keep you informed of developments /progress on this EG-ITR. Please stay tuned for more information. Regards, ------------------------------ Elizabeth Oluoch Policy Advisor Internet Society Email: Oluoch@isoc.org Direct: + 1 703 439 2138 ------------------------------ Reply to Sender : https://connect.internetsociety.org/eGroups/PostReply/?GroupId=67&SenderKey=a2ecc45b-252c-4ad7-80c6-edc24785668c&MID=13728&MDATE=756%253b46746%253e&UserKey=23f4250c-36c4-47c0-a953-21fbfc0c933d&sKey=316fe1cb062c44aea994 Reply to Discussion : https://connect.internetsociety.org/eGroups/PostReply/?GroupId=67&MID=13728&MDATE=756%253b46746%253e&UserKey=23f4250c-36c4-47c0-a953-21fbfc0c933d&sKey=316fe1cb062c44aea994 To Download the attachment(s) click on the link below: https://connect.internetsociety.org/eGroups/ViewAttachment/?DocumentKey=e8e1c46d-67b4-4cdb-95fa-c6270dcf54b5&MDATE=756%253b46746%253e&UserKey=23f4250c-36c4-47c0-a953-21fbfc0c933d&sKey=316fe1cb062c44aea994 (if the link doesn't work, copy and paste it into your web browser) ------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to "Open Forum" as otieno.barrack@gmail.com. To change your subscriptions, go to http://connect.internetsociety.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions&MDATE=756%253b46746%253e&UserKey=23f4250c-36c4-47c0-a953-21fbfc0c933d&sKey=316fe1cb062c44aea994. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to http://connect.internetsociety.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=23f4250c-36c4-47c0-a953-21fbfc0c933d&sKey=316fe1cb062c44aea994&GroupKey=97d1deec-2852-437d-b9c9-b63e9610a94c. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A