The ITU Council met last 4-14 September in Geneva. The main topics for debate included approval of the 2008-2009 biennial budget, ITU activities with respect to applying results of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and cost recovery for the processing of satellite network filings.
For the first time the Council began with a high level session attended by ministerial representatives from seven countries in a discussion on cyber-security and construction of telecommunication infrastructures and information and communication technologies (ICTs). At the end, the Secretary General (SG) stressed the importance of the high level session as a way to discuss relevant telecommunications issues, fostering the sharing of information and the definition of new modes of action.
Some of the main issues discussed are set out below:
- Budget for the 2008-2009 biennium
The draft budget presented to the council was largely debated, given the fact that it once again makes use of the reserve account. Many member states expressed their concern about this measure, indicating that besides being not being very transparent, this constant use of the reserve account increasingly puts its level at risk. The Secretariat countered that in accordance with Decision 5 of the Plenipotentiary Conference (PP06) this level must be at least 3 percent of the budget and that even with the proposed withdrawal it continued to be within acceptable values.
However, as a repeated use of the reserve account is planned for the 2009-2010 biennium, it will not be possible to maintain the same level. To deal with this matter a suggestion was made to increase the contribution unit for that two-year period, but this proposal was rejected by the administrations. Other solutions will hopefully be found before the 2009-2010 budget is approved, specifically by cost cutting linked to the efficiency of services and improved work processes. Note that during the Council session India and Mali indicated that they will double their annual contribution. The draft budget was approved, though with reservations regarding the aspects mentioned.
- ITU activities with regard to implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
The Council was provided detailed information on all activities undertaken by the ITU with a view to applying the WSIS decisions. It particularly focused on developments in the Council working group on the WSIS, which resulted in the decision to create a roadmap for ITU participation in implementation of the WSIS results by 2015 and to assign focal points to the various WSIS action lines so as to better frame the activities to perform.
- Cost recovery for processing satellite network filings
The question of cost recovery for processing satellite network filings, particularly the method of calculating the rates charged by the ITU, has gone on for several years and been covered in successive Council sessions without ever reaching a definitive and consensus solution. Decisions from previous Council sessions let to exorbitant amounts being invoiced for the processing of some satellite network filings, which in turn led some administrations/operators to not pay the respective invoices. This has led to a notable volume of debts owed to the ITU, unbalancing its accounts.
In this Council session the SG indicated he was against forgiving the amount of 4 million Swiss francs (2.4 million euros) requested by the 19 administrations involved, alleging that the states that did not file satellite networks would be paying for those that did, and that this was unsustainable for the Union's reserve fund. He called for a compromise solution of forgiving 50 percent of that amount, which was accepted by the parties involved and approved by the Council.
- Council working groups
The Council considered and approved the reports from the various working groups, some set up in the wake of PP06 decisions, specifically on: financial regulation, implementation of the WSIS results, participation of all relevant players in ITU activities related to WSIS, security definitions and terminology and management and budget.
- Establishment of the Council Management and Budget working Group (MBG)
The Council approved, after slight changes, the resolution establishing the MBG and defined its mandate, composition and working methods. The group's interim chair, José Saraiva Mendes (Portugal), announced that he could no longer continue in that position, so it was necessary to determine a new leadership for the MBG. After some consultations a proposal from the SG that the vice president of this Council session should chair the MBG was accepted, while the head of the 2007 Council will carry out the functions of deputy chair of the working group, on a rotating basis. Note that some administrations expressed the opinion that a rotating chair for this group could lead to some instability. The SG also paid homage to the work of Saraiva Mendes, acknowledging his contribution to the ITU's activities.
- Operational plans of the sectors and the Secretary General for 2006-2009
The operational plans for the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR), Telecommunications Development Bureau (BDT) and Telecommunications Standardisation Bureau (TSB) and General Secretariat were presented and approved.
- Trial period for free-of-charge online access to ITU-T recommendations
In the wake of the proposal from the Telecommunciations Standardisation Advisory Group (TSAG) that highlighted the strategic interest in providing free online access to this sector's recommendations, the 2006 Council drew up Decision 542, setting up a trial period to begin in January 2007, in which free online access to the ITU-T recommendations was to be provided to the member states, sector members and associate members.
This Council session evaluated the impact of this measure, which financially was less than previously expected, while at strategic level it was well compensated, given that 1 million recommendations were downloaded during this period. The Council thus approved the permanent application of Decision 542; some members called for the same to be done in the other sectors, particularly the Radiocommunication Sector.
- Future ITU events
The Council studied the dates and sites proposed for future ITU events, especially:
- The World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly
If a formal bid is submitted by 15 October, this Assembly will be held in the South African city of Durban between May and November 2008. If not, it will be held in Geneva.
- Council-08
The holding of the Council session on 12-21 November was approved.
- Telecom
The Council noted the holding of Telecom Africa 2008 in Egypt on 12-15 May, and Telecom World in 2009 (Geneva).
- World Forum on Telecommunication Policies
This forum will be held on 25-27 March 2009 in Geneva.
- Plenipotentiary Conference
This conference will be held on 4-22 October 2010 in the Mexican city of Veracruz.
- World Telecommunications and Information Society Day
The Council noted the success of the 2007 commemorations and approved the theme topic for the 2008 event: ''Connecting People with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for All''.
