Office of the Spokesperson
For Immediate Release: November 1, 2012
Fast Facts on United States Submitting Second Tranche Proposals to World Telecom Conference
On December 3, the United States will join the international community in Dubai at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT). Hosted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), this important conference will be meeting for the first time since 1988 in the context of the dramatic evolution of global communications, namely the advent of the Internet and growth of mobile services in the intervening years.
In preparation for the conference, the United States on October 31 submitted to the ITU a series of proposals for consideration by participating nations, which focus on creating an enabling environment for increased investment in global telecommunication infrastructure by promoting competition, transparency, and consumer choice. This follows the initial group of proposals submitted on August 3.
These proposals underscore the continuing utility of the existing International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs), a global treaty on international exchange of telecommunications traffic, and also reaffirm the U.S. view that competition and commercial agreements – not regulation – is the best model for exchanging international telecommunications traffic. The U.S. contribution proposes revisions to the text of the existing treaty – deleting, modifying, and adding new language to the existing text.
As a delegation and as a country, the United States is committed to the goal of increasing connectivity among all countries, including developing countries. The United States seeks to build on the international model that has been successful in creating benefits for consumers, citizens, and societies.
Learn more about the U.S. proposals here. Second tranche proposal here.
Learn more about WCIT here.