[Chapter-delegates] [Report] ITU convenes first Expert Group meeting to prepare for the Fourth ITU WTPF, April 2009, Lisbon, Portugal

[Constance Bommelaer]

Dear colleagues,

 

Background

 

At the ITU 2006 Plenipotentiary where ISOC
<http://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/governance/itu_plenipot_turkey.shtml>  was
present for the entire conference, in Resolution 9 (Antalya, 2006) it was
decided to convene the fourth WTPF, in the first quarter of 2009, to discuss
and exchange views on Convergence and Emerging policy issues.

 

The Fourth World Telecommunications Forum (
<http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/wtpf/wtpf2009/> WTPF) will be held at the end of
April 2009 in Lisbon, Portugal. The WTPF is a venue for discussing
strategies and policies of high current policy interest within the changing
telecommunication environment. Outcomes are non-binding. The day before the
WTPF starts, an Information Session focusing on the same themes as the WTPF
will also be organized. The ITU is convening "Expert Group" meetings to
prepare for both of these meetings.

 

Process

 

At this early stage of preparation, discussions have been very focused on
process rather than content. The ITU SG produced a first draft of a Report
<http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/wtpf/wtpf2009/report.html>  describing the
working methodology and themes for the WTPF. Member States, Sector Members
(which includes ISOC) and Associates were invited to submit comments on this
report. ISOC's contribution was submitted on the 7th of January 2007 and has
been put up on the Strategic Global Engagement webpages at:
<http://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/community/wtpf_07012008.shtml>
http://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/community/wtpf_07012008.shtml   

 

In early June, the ITU SG convened an Expert Group whose mandate is to
submit comments on the SG's Report and to formulate proposals for the agenda
of the WTPF and the Information Session. In order to carefully follow the
evolution of this process as well as its outcome, ISOC requested to join
this group and was excepted mid-June.

 

The first Expert Group meeting was held on June 24th (last week) in Geneva.
ISOC's comments on the first draft of the SG's Report (see url above) were
reiterated at that meeting, as they had not all been taken into account
previously. They will also be resubmitted beginning of July. ISOC's future
submissions will all be posted on the Strategic
<http://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/governance/globalengage.shtml>  Global
Engagement webpages, and as this is an on-going process, we invite you to
contact us with any comments at sge at isoc.org or start a discussion here on
the chapter delegates list. 

 

During this first meeting of the Expert Group, numerous delegates also
encouraged the ITU SG to narrow its focus to an emerging and pressing issue
being faced by the world community such as ICT and Public Safety, ICT and
Public Health, ICT and Environment or ICT and Public Warning Systems,
instead of duplicating the discussions held in existing forums such as the
Internet Governance Forum (IGF). Also, ISOC insisted that it is in the
spirit of the WTPF that its agenda and outcome reflects all ITU members'
views, including its Sector Members'.

 

The final ITU SG's Report will be available in December 2008. At that time,
we will consult with members, chapter delegates, and other stakeholders with
specific knowledge or expertise on the final theme chosen.

 

Best regards,

 

Constance Bommelaer

Senior Manager of Public Policy

Internet Society (ISOC)

+41 22 807 14 48

 <http://www.isoc.org/> http://www.isoc.org  

 

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