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/ INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION / Document 7-E
7 March 2002
English only
INFORMAL GROUP ON THE DRAFT ITU STRATEGIC PLAN 2003-2007
geneva — 7-8 March 2002

United States of America

Contribution of the United States of America

to the Working Group on the

ITU Strategic Plan for 2003-20067

March 7-8, 2002

We have considered the contributions and proposals placed on the ITU website regarding the draft Strategic Plan for the Union, 2003-2006. We are grateful to the Working Group Chairman, Ms. Kathleen Heceta, for her very helpful and comprehensive draft, and we look forward with anticipation to working with her and other interested parties in the Working Group meeting on March 7 and 8.

In order to follow up on our earlier contribution discussing the desirable qualities and structure of a strategic plan, we provide the following general comments, and the attached annotated version of the Chairman’s Draft, which we hope will be useful to the work of the group.

First, we propose structural changes along the lines we suggested in our earlier document, to create main sections on the mission and nature of the Union, environment, Sectors and Secretariat (and their general goals and priorities), Financial Plan, and linkage. As a general matter, our main goals in the comments and suggestions we provide here are to:

  • keep the plan at a high level of general principle and priority, removing details and explanations and retaining the essential points;
  • allow the relevant membership, including membership groups (such as Sector Advisory Groups) to speak for themselves;
  • avoidremove repetition, judgmental implications, rephrasing, and ambiguity.

In fulfillment of these goals, we propose as follows:

  • removal of large portions of text that we believe provide unnecessary and even undesirable levels of detail (particularly those that illustrate a well-understood principle);
  • a substantial shortening of the introductory text to provide essential characteristics and priorities of the Union, leaving the setting of more particular goals and priorities to the Sectors and General Secretariat;
  • use of language provided by Sector Advisory Groups verbatim as much as possible; and
  • other changes that are explained throughout this draft.

Further, we believe that the establishment of true linkage of the Strategic Plan with the Operational and Financial Plans is essential, and requires action by this Plenipotentiary Conference. We are accordingly providing two proposed attachments to the Strategic Plan - a summary Financial Plan and an outline of planning schedules and logistics.

DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE UNION, 2003-2007

1 December 2001 draft

(This draft of the Strategic Plan is prepared and published pursuant to Council Decision 504 by Ms. Kathleen G. Heceta, Philippines, as Chair appointed by Council for this purpose. It is based on contributions from the membership and the Sector Advisory Groups, available on the ITU website at: (see Annex). This draft also takes into account materials provided by the ITU secretariat, including previous strategic plans, documents from Council, and other inputs.)

Part I: The Mission and Nature of the Union and its Membership

Note: The United States would not imply that the Union is something other than its membership.

1. The mission and nature of the Union

1.1The purposes of the Union are set out in Article 1 of the Constitution (Minneapolis, 1998). Essentially, they are to provide a forum in which the membership of the Union can cooperate and harmonize their actions in the technical, development and policy domains.

1.1The purposes of the Union are set out in Article 1 of the Constitution (Minneapolis, 1998), and are essentially as follows:. Essentially, they are to

  • maintain and extend international cooperation among all its Member States for the improvement and rational use of telecommunications of all kinds;,
  • promote the extension of the benefits of the new telecommunication technologies to all the world's inhabitants;, and
  • harmonize the actions of Member States and promote fruitful and constructive cooperation and partnership between Member States and Sector Members in the attainment of those ends.

Note: The United States proposes using direct quotation from Constitution Article 1 rather than rephrasings, and suggests the three bullet items above as indicative of the essential mission of the ITU.

1.2The International Telecommunication Union remains an intergovernmental organization, within which Member States, Sector Members and Associates, having well defined rights and obligations and due regard to the principle of universality and the desirability of universal participation, shall cooperate for the fulfillment of the purposes of the Union.

1.3Article 10 para 70 (2) of the ITU Constitution tasks the ITU Council to prepare a report on the policy and strategic planning recommended for the Union, together with their financial implications, in keeping with the guidelines given by the PP to ensure that the Union’s policies and strategies fully respond to the constantly changing telecommunications environment.

Note: The United States is in agreement with Germany that it is more appropriate to note the sources and mandates would more appropriately be noted in a short introduction to the plan, rather than in this section on Mission and Nature. In order to provide relevant information on the Mission and Nature of the Union, the United States proposes to include in this section a clear indication of not only the mission (above) but also the nature of the Union, perhaps along the following lines:

1.4 The membership has identified the following essential characteristics of the Union.

  • It is a unique intergovernmental organization. Member States, Sector Members and Associates work together for the improvement and rational use of telecommunications of all kinds.
  • It is membership-driven. The members initiate and carry out its mission, goals, priorities, and activities with strong support and effective expertise provided by its elected officials and secretariat.
  • It has a strong focus on and role in promoting the extension of the benefits of telecommunications to all the world's inhabitants, with special attention to meeting the needs of the least-served and the least developed countries.
  • It is the unique entity that ensures rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including those using satellite orbits.

2.The changing telecommunication environment, and its implications for ITU

Part II: The Telecommunications Environment

The United States suggests that thise Environment section provide a general indication of the nature of this rapidly-changing telecommunication environmentsituation, without delving into detailed statistics (which could be attached in an addendum, if needed) and without seeking to characterize it or to draw conclusions therefrom. For example, (Iif the environment produces "expanded expectations" of the ITU role, for example,, these expectations would be reflected in the goals and priorities, not in the environment). The original proposed draft environment sectiondiscussion, we submit, is far more detailed and conclusory than is needed in a high-level, four-year plan. The United States proposes using the following: a single paragraph would serve to indicate the magnitude and rapidity of recent change, and another to indicate the major trends that will continue to impact the Union in its work. The United States proposes the following approach:

Recent Change

2.1 It has become clear in the period since the adoption of the 1999-2003 Strategic Plan that the rate of change in the telecommunications environment is phenomenal, and that its exact directions cannot be predicted. For example, while growth in the fixed-line network has continued at a steady rate, and the number of fixed lines worldwide passed the one billion mark early in 2001, this was surpassed by the growth in mobile networks, and there are now more mobile phone users than fixed-line telephone users.[1] Nonetheless, development and implementation of 3G and advanced mobile networks has somewhat lagged behind expectations. The Internet has become even more ubiquitous than anticipated, with more than 350million Internet users worldwide and increases in inter-regional capacity of IP backbone networks of nearly 300 percent. Wireless Internet in particular has grown rapidly and this is likely to continue. It also appears that expenditures and reliance on electronic commerce, which have grown enormously since 1998, will continue and that voice communications will also be carried over IP-based networks. For the satellite industry, however, the immediate past and future offer a mixed picture with areas of disappointment and areas of continuing growth.

Major Trends

2.2 While technological and service growth and movement may be difficult to predict, some broader trends are clear and seem virtually certain to continue. Examples of such trends include the moves toward continued privatization and market liberalization, and the accompanying increases in private sector participation and number of independent regulatory agencies. These changes in the environment, whether past, present, or future, impact the ITU; and the impact can be seen in everything from the makeup of its membership and its financial base to the shape and nature of its priorities. This Strategic Plan is intended to assess the impact and demands of the environment on the Union’s mission, goals, and activities, and to establish priorities for its work in the coming period.

Part III: Strategies and Goals of the Union

3.Strategies and goals

Note: With regard to Strategies and Goals of the Union, tThe United States suggests that it is more appropriate to keep this general discussion very short, and to defer more specific discussion to the individual Sector and Secretariat sections. Thus, while many of the goals included in the Chairman's draft are certainly valid, we believe that only universally applicable and essential goals should be included in this section of the draft Strategic Plan. The United States suggests that the detailed section in the Chairman's draft be replaced by briefer and more general language along the following lines:

Goals

3.1 The membership considers the following to be among the most important goals of the Union:

  • coordinating efforts to eliminate harmful interference and improve the use of the radio-frequency spectrum for radiocommunication services, and the use of the geostationary-satellite and other satellite orbits;
  • allowing for transparent, inclusive, and market-responsive production of high-quality, universally-recognized, technical and other Recommendations and work products;
  • reducing the international gaps in information and communications technologies, including the mobilization of material, human, and financial resources to hasten realization of universal access;
  • disseminating information and know-how to provide the membership, particularly developing countries, with greater capabilities to respond to the dynamic telecommunications environment;
  • superior performance of those tasks and activities that the membership agrees are of highest priority and within the ITU's mission and core competence.

3.1The strategic challenge facing the Union in the 2003-2007 time frame is to remain a pre-eminent intergovernmental organization where Member States, Sector Members and Associates work together to enable the growth and sustained development of telecommunications and information networks, and facilitate universal access so that people everywhere can participate in and benefit from the global information economy and society.

Note: While the United States does not believe that it is necessary or particularly useful to include a section on the inclusion of the "strategic orientations," is necessary or particularly useful, we do not oppose itstheir inclusion if itthey are is found to be valuable. We would suggest, however, that the detailed descriptions and explanations that accompany them could be removed, and that the use of boldface type not be usedis unnecessary for the remaining text.

Strategic Orientation

3.2Strategic orientations are principles intended to provide coherence, focus, and direction to all of the activities undertaken by the Union. TIn addition, the following strategic orientations, which build on the experience of previous planning cycles, are incorporated in this strategic plan:

  • Improve customer service,
  • Innovate,
  • Establish partnerships,
  • Maintain solidarity,
  • Inform, and
  • Promote the principle and implementation of a competitive telecommunication environment.

3.3The general goals, strategies and priorities of the Union are achieved through the activities of its three (3) Sectors, through the Sector conferences and assemblies, and through general activities such as the Plenipotentiary Conference, the World Conference on International Telecommunications and the Council, as well as the World Telecommunication Policy Forum and TELECOM exhibitions and forums.

3.4The purposes of the Union, as set out in Article 1 of the Constitution, apply to all Sectors, so they share a number of strategic orientations and goals for the 2003-2007 period and will undertake priority actions to achieve these goals:

Part IV: The Sectors and the General Secretariat

Part II: The Sectors and the General Secretariat

4.Radiocommunication

Note: The Radiocommunication Advisory Group is meeting during the week of February 25, and will provide a revised draft text of this section of the Strategic Plan. As noted previously, the United States would rely as much as possible on the language provided by the relevant Advisory Groups for verbatim inclusion in the Strategic Plan. The suggestions made here are therefore subject to RAG's proposals.

Radiocommunication

4.1The mission of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector, as drawn from the provisions of the Constitution and Convention is, interalia,, among other things, to ensure rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including those using satellite orbits, and to carry out studies and adopt Recommendations on radiocommunication matters.

Note: In order to avoid duplication and repetitiveness, the United States proposes deleting the Sector-specific environment discussion except for a brief statement. If issues from this discussion are not adequately covered in the Environment section above, that section can be edited appropriately.

4.2 This mission is to be undertaken in an environment characterized by growing recognition of the economic value of frequency spectrum and ever-increasing demand for it, a growing role for regional organizations and private-sector participants, need for interoperability, increasing convergence, and continuing and growing needs and concerns of developing countries.

4.2This mission is to be undertaken under an environment characterized by:

Growing recognition of the economic value of frequency spectrum and the application of market mechanisms in the management and allocation of that resource;

Ever increasing demand for the limited radio-frequency spectrum for space and terrestrial radiocommunication systems;

The need for interoperability among radiocommunication services, and between radio-based and fixed-line services;

Increasing convergence of services, having an impact both on spectrum management and the service definitions and working methods of the Sector;

Growing demand for assistance from developing countries, to include access to the radio frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary satellite orbits in support of their national requirements;

Increasingly complex and lengthy agendas for World Radiocommunication Conferences.

4.34.3The Radiocommunication Bureau faces two major challenges in the next PP period, namely eliminatingto eliminate the backlog in the processing of notifications, especially for satellite networks, and to aaccommodatinge within its budget the new tasks identified by successive WRCs. These challenges need to be reflected in the budget and operational plan of the Sector and in the priority-setting process.

Note: Subject to the outcome of the RAG meeting, the United States would suggest that some additional priorities might include:

4.34.4Additional priorities of In addition, ITU-R includeshould aim to:

  • dDeveloping an action plan to implement decisions of PP-02, and specifically those arising from Recommendations made by the Working Group on ITU Reform and the Joint Inspection Unit.

Ccontinuingeto improveing the efficiency and effectiveness of ITU-R structures activities and processes.

  • Note: Subject to the outcome of the RAG meeting, the United States would suggest that some additional priorities might include:
  • continuing to review at the Radiocommunication Advisory Group the world radiocommunication conference process and other relevant processes in the Sector, to ensure that they are effective and efficient, that the agendas developed do not unduly burden Member States and Sector Members, and consequently burden secretariat resources, and that the intervals between conferences and meetings are appropriate;
  • preparing yearly draft operational and financial plans that are firmly linked to this Strategic Plan, and that are circulated well in advance of the beginning of the year for which the operational and financial plans are relevant;
  • accommodating the global and regional spectrum requirements of innovative services that will provide communication and information services "any time, any place;"
  • studying and applying, as appropriate, improved international spectrum management techniques;
  • facilitating timely coordination between new and existing active and passive systems in both space and terrestrial environments and developing spectrum regulation initiatives to better harmonise frequency allocations and the use of satellite orbits;,
  • expanding the assistance offered to Member States in coordinating and registering frequency assignments and in applying the Radio Regulations, with special attention to developing countries and Member States that have recently joined the Union;
  • collaborating as needed with ITU-T and ITU-D and the General Secretariat to ensure that studies are appropriately coordinated and that no duplication of work occurs;
  • undertaking periodic study group reviews of work programmes to re-establish priorities and improve effectiveness; and
  • encouraging greater participation by Member States, Sector Members, Associates and other organisations in ITU-R activities, among other things, by concluding formal and informal task-oriented cooperation arrangements.
5.Telecommunication Standardization

Note: As in the case of the Radiocommunication and Development Sectors, the United States urges that the text for the Standardization section of the Strategic Plan be that developed by TSAG in its November 2001 meeting and reflected in TSAG Report R-14. If minor adjustments to format are required for the sake of consistency, they should be made with a light hand - but the wording, and the essence, of the text should be as developed by the Advisory Group. The United States has thus replaced the Chairman's Draft section on ITU-T, which departed in significant ways from the TSAG text, with a slightly-reformatted text we have developed to synchronize with this draft Strategic Plan.