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GLOBAL SYMPOSIUM FOR REGULATORS (GSR)
8 - 10 December 2004, Geneva, Switzerland
Press Clippings
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Global Regulators to Focus on Licensing in
Era of Convergence - ITU to Release Report on Trends in Telecommunication
Reform
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ITU to Adopt Converged Licensing Regime
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ITU to Look At Convergence Issues
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Telecommunications: Global Symposium for Regulators to Face
the Challenge of Convergence
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Global regulators will gather next week in Geneva to discuss
their roles in a...
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Intrado Inc. (NASDAQ: TRDO) prendra part au 5ème symposium
annuel mondial des organismes de contrôle (GSR)
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Intrado to Participate in ITU Global Symposium for Regulators
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FCC Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy Chairs 5th Annual ITU Global Symposium for Regulators Resulting in the Identification of Best Practice "Connectivity" Guidelines
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Low Cost Broadband and Internet Access Essential to Information Society
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World Regulator Summit Endorses Unlicensed Spectrum
Global Symposium for Regulators: Special report
Global Regulators to Focus on Licensing in
Era of Convergence
ITU to Release Report on Trends in Telecommunication Reform
Information note to the press
International Telecommunication Union
For immediate release
Geneva, 17 November 2004 — The information and communication
technology (ICT) sector is undergoing a radical transformation from an industry
based on "plain old telephone service" (POTS) to one that provides
voice, data and multimedia applications. At the same time, countries around the
world are in the process of updating their licensing and regulatory frameworks
to address this convergence to better promote affordable Internet and broadband
access.
ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) will bring
together heads of national regulatory authorities from both developed and
developing countries to achieve consensus on the best ways to address the
challenges of convergence and to achieve the shared goal of affordable access.
To this end, the regulators are expected to issue a statement of "Best
Practice Guidelines for the Promotion of Low Cost Broadband and Internet
Connectivity".
As well, the 2004 edition of the annual ITU publication Trends
in Telecommunication Reform will be released during the GSR. The report
focuses on the global trend to reduce licensing requirements and to adopt
converged licensing regimes that will enable service providers to offer any and
all services using the technology of their choice.
The GSR has earned a reputation as the global venue for
regulators to share their views and experiences as part of the worldwide
community of regulators. To date, the heads of more than 50 national regulatory
bodies have registered to attend the symposium, which fosters an open dialogue
between regulators and key stakeholders including the private sector, investors
and consumers.
This year’s GSR will also include a technology demonstration
by equipment vendors and service providers to showcase new, low cost broadband
and Internet telecommunications equipment. Announced exhibitors include Nortel
Networks, Intrado, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, Intel, Clearwire, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, and IIT Madras University.
The conference will be chaired by Ms Kathleen Abernathy,
Commissioner of the US Federal Communications Commission.
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What:
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Global Symposium for Regulators — ‘Licensing in an
Era of Convergence’
Release of Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2004
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When:
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8–10 December 2004. The first day of the GSR is open
to regulators, policy makers, ITU-D Sector Members and other invited
guests. December 9 and 10 will be reserved for regulators and
policy-makers.
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Where:
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Room A, World Meteorological Organization, avenue de
la Paix, Geneva, Switzerland
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Why:
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A major objective of this year’s conference is to
achieve consensus on ways to promote the development of low cost access
to broadband and Internet connectivity, which is of particular
importance to the developing world.
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Top
ITU to Adopt
Converged Licensing Regime
Daily
Champion (Lagos)
November 23, 2004
Posted to the web November 23, 2004
Remmy Nweke
Lagos
GLOBAL telecom regulator, the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), has concluded plans to adopt "converged
licensing regimes".
This development is coming as the United Nations
agency regulating telecommunications, would next month host the Global
Symposium for Regulators (GSRs) for three days.
The conference slated to hold in December between 8
and 10, in Geneva, with the theme: "Licensing in an era of
convergence," would herald the release of ITU's report "Trends in
Telecommunication Reform 2004".
ITU said that the report focuses on the global trend
to reduce licensing requirements and to "adopt conveged licensing
regimes that will enable service providers to offer any and all services
using the technology of their choice.
Indications to the adoption was given in an official
press statement from the global telecom regulator, just as the GSR meeting
is expected to issue statement of "Best Practice Guidelines for the
Promotion of Low Cost Broadband and Internet Connectivity," the end of
three-day event.
The meeting would bring together heads of national
regulatory authorities from both developed and developing countries to
achieve consensus on the best ways to address the challenges of convergence
and shared goal of affordable access.
This is coming as several countries around the world
are in the process of updating their licensing and regulatory frameworks to
address this convergence, so as to better promote affordable Internet and
broadband access.
The 2004 edition of the annual ITU publication Trends
in Telecommunication Reform would also be released during the GSR.
The GSR has earned a reputation as the global venue
for regulators to share their views and experiences as part of the worldwide
community of regulators.
The heads of more than 50 national regulatory bodies,
including Nigeria, have registered to attend the symposium, which fosters an
open dialogue between regulators and key stakeholders including the private
sector, investors and consumers.
This year's GSR will also include a technology
demonstration by equipment vendors and service providers to showcase new,
low cost broadband and Internet telecommunications equipment.
Confirmed exhibitors include Nortel Networks, Intrado,
Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, Intel, Clearwire, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, and IIT Madras University.
The conference will be chaired by Ms Kathleen
Abernathy, Commissioner of the US Federal Communications Commission.
The first day of the GSR, the press statement said
would be open to regulators, policy makers, ITU-D Sector Members and other
invited guests.
While the second and third day, would be reserved
strictly for regulators and policy-makers.
Business Champion, further learnt that a major
objective of this year's conference is to achieve consensus on ways to
promote the development of low cost access to broadband and Internet
connectivity, which is of particular importance to the developing world.
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ITU
to Look At Convergence Issues
ITWeb
(Johannesburg)
November 23, 2004
Posted to the web November 23, 2004
Rodney Weidemann
Johannesburg
The International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) will host a symposium for regulators that will focus on the topic
'licensing in an era of convergence'.
Due to take place in Geneva from 8 to 10
December, the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) will be open to regulators
and policy makers from both developed and developing nations.
The main aim of the GSR is to reach
consensus on ways to promote the development of low cost access to broadband
and Internet connectivity, particularly in terms of the developing world.
According to the ITU, the ICT sector is
currently undergoing a radical transformation as it shifts from an industry
based on "plain old telephone service" (POTS) to one that provides
voice, data and multimedia applications.
The organisation says that as this shift
occurs, countries around the world are also working on updating their
licensing and regulatory frameworks in order to address this convergence so as
to better promote affordable Internet and broadband access.
To this end, the regulators are expected
to issue a statement of "Best Practice Guidelines for the Promotion of
Low Cost Broadband and Internet Connectivity".
The ITU will also release the 2004
edition of its annual publication "Trends in Telecommunication
Reform", which focuses on the global trend towards reducing licensing
requirements and adopting converged licensing regimes that enable providers to
offer all services using the technology of their choice.
According to the ITU, more than 50
national regulatory bodies have already registered to attend the GSR, and it
is expected that this symposium will help to foster open dialogue between
regulators and key stakeholders, including the private sector, investors and
consumers.
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Telecommunications: Global Symposium for
Regulators to Face the Challenge of Convergence
209 Words
25 November 2004
Europe Information e-technologies
tece
0261
English
(c) 2004 Tech Europe
The Global Symposium for regulators, organised by the International
telecommunications Union, will be held on December 8 to 10 in Geneva. Heads of
national regulatory authorities from developed and developing countries will
come together to seek a consensus on how to address the challenge of convergence
and how to achieve the shared objective of access for all. To this end,
regulators are expected to issue a declaration on "best practices
guidelines for promoting low cost broadband and internet connectivity".
The 2004 edition of ITU’s annual publication "Trends in
Telecommunications reform" will also be released, focussing on the
worldwide trend towards reducing the number of licences and adopting uniform
rules that enable service providers to offer any and all services using the
technology of their choice.
The symposium is considered to be the global forum for regulators from all
over the world to exchange views and share experiences. So far, the heads of
over 50 national regulatory authorities have registered for the symposium, which
aims to foster dialogue between regulators and their key partners including the
private sector, investors and consumers. The symposium will be chaired by
Kathleen Abernathy, member of the US FCC, the Federal Communications Commission.
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Global regulators will
gather next week in Geneva to discuss their roles in a...
Telecom
172 Words
01 December 2004
Technology Daily PM
English
Copyright 2004 by National Journal Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Global regulators will gather next week in Geneva to discuss
their roles in a world increasingly dominated by high-speed communications
services. Chaired by FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy, the International
Telecommunication Union symposium will bring together regulators to discuss
"best practices," what promotes competition and how to encourage
growth in new technologies, Abernathy said at a press briefing Wednesday. The
conference's focus will be on licensing in an era of convergence, but sessions
also will explore low-cost access to broadband, unsolicited e-mail and spectrum
policy. "There's a lot of interest in the model we've developed with
licensed and unlicensed spectrum," Abernathy said. The FCC will hold a
spectrum auction for broadband personal communication services starting Jan. 26.
Abernathy said she is more concerned about how the spectrum is used than with
how much money the auction generates.
Spectrum is key because of the "insatiable" appetite
among Americans for communications services, she said.
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Intrado Invited to Demonstrate Technologies at ITU's 5th Annual Global Symposium
for Regulators
Intrado Inc. (NASDAQ: TRDO) prendra part au 5ème symposium annuel
Mondial des organismes de contrôle (GSR)
Le Revenu - France
Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)
le 7 déc. 2004-
French
Intrado
Inc. (NASDAQ: TRDO), fournisseur mondial de données intégrées et de solutions de
télécommunications, a annoncé aujourd'hui qu'il prendra part au 5ème symposium
annuel Mondial des organismes de contrôle (GSR), organisé par l'Union
Internationale des Télécommunications (ITU) du 8 au 10 décembre à Genève en
Suisse.
Top
Intrado to Participate in ITU Global
Symposium for Regulators; Intrado Joins List of 15 Organizations Invited to
Demonstrate Technologies
Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)
Dec. 7, 2004-
International Telecommunication Union's 5th Annual Global
Symposium for RegulatorsLONGMONT, Colo.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Dec. 7, 2004--Intrado Inc. (NASDAQ: TRDO), a global provider of
integrated data and telecommunications solutions, today announced that it will
participate in the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) 5th Annual
Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR), December 8-10, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Intrado is one of 15 companies invited by the ITU to demonstrate technologies of
interest to attendees in the symposium's exhibition area. Intrado will
demonstrate an SMS Spam Filtering Platform enabling mobile operators to define
specific rules used to block spam at the network level, and a Web-based
emergency telephone notification tool enabling public-safety agencies to quickly
deliver explicit instructions to individuals in targeted geographic areas.
The GSR is an annual event bringing together heads of national
regulatory authorities from both developed and developing countries. It has
earned a reputation as the global venue for regulators to share their views and
experiences as part of the worldwide community of regulators. The meeting
fosters an open dialogue between regulators and key ICT stakeholders: the
private sector, investors and consumers.
"Intrado is privileged and honored by the ITU's invitation to
demonstrate our technologies to the worldwide regulatory community," said George
Heinrichs, Intrado chief executive officer.
About Intrado
Intrado Inc. (NASDAQ: TRDO), now in its 25th year, has been a pioneer in
emergency communications since 1979. Intrado provides the core of the nation's
9-1-1 infrastructure and delivers innovative solutions to communications service
providers and public-safety organizations, including complex data management,
network transactions, wireless data services and notification services. The
company's unparalleled industry knowledge and experience reduce the effort, cost
and time associated with providing reliable information for 9-1-1, safety and
commercial applications. Additional information on Intrado, its products and
services, and past press releases can be found at the Company's Web site:
www.intrado.com.
Contacts
 Ketchum PR for Intrado Inc.
Alexis Garbeff, 415-984-6164
alexis.garbeff@ketchum.com
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FCC Commissioner Kathleen Q.
Abernathy
Chairs 5th Annual ITU Global Symposium for Regulators
Resulting in the Identification of Best Practice "Connectivity" Guidelines
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FCC NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
December 13, 2004
Jennifer Manner at (202) 418-2530
Jennifer.Manner@fcc.gov
Washington,
D.C. - Telecommunications regulators participating in the 5th annual
ITU Global Symposium for Regulators have identified the best practices needed to
facilitate access to broadband and internet connectivity so that social and
economic benefits of the information society can benefit all the world’s
citizens. They expressed a shared
goal to create national regulatory frameworks that are flexible and that enable
competition between multiple private sector service providers who may want to
utilize a variety of technology platforms and delivery options.
The regulators further stressed that in order to achieve global
connectivity and reap the social and economic benefits this would bring, there
must be fair and reasonable access for competitive broadband services, including
internet connectivity.
FCC
Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy, the Chair of the GSR, stated in her
concluding remarks that, “Broadband networks are the key to maximizing the
promise of an evolving and converging information and communications technology
sector.
New wireless and converging technologies that are sure to follow can
revolutionize our societies and help to close the broadband divide that exists
within and among our countries.” [Complete article]
Top
Low Cost Broadband and Internet
Access Essential to Information Society
Global Symposium for Regulators Releases Best Practice
‘Connectivity’ Guidelines
Press Release
International Telecommunication Union
For immediate release
T: +41 22 730 6039
F: +41 22 730 5933
E-mail: pressinfo
Geneva, 13 December 2004 — Telecommunication
regulators participating in the 5th annual ITU Global Symposium for
Regulators (GSR) have identified the best practices needed to facilitate access
so that the social and economic benefits of the information society can benefit
all the world’s citizens. They expressed a shared goal to create national
regulatory frameworks that are flexible and that enable competition between
multiple private sector service providers who may want to utilize a variety of
technology platforms and delivery options.
"Technological innovations and market developments are forcing
telecommunication regulators to rethink their regulatory practices," said
Hamadoun I. Touré, Director of the ITU Development Bureau. "The reality is
that with a full range of ICT services and devices available on different
networks – regulators must face the question of whether licences that limit
operators to specific services or technologies still makes sense."
The information and communication technology (ICT) sector is undergoing a
radical transformation from one based on "plain old telephone service"
(POTS) to one that provides voice, data and multimedia applications. At the same
time, countries around the world are in the process of updating their licensing
and regulatory frameworks to address this convergence and to better promote
affordable Internet and broadband access.
ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) brought together the heads of
54 national regulatory authorities from both developed and developing
countries, with representatives from 106 countries, to achieve consensus
on the best ways to address the challenges of convergence and to achieve the
shared goal of affordable access. The GSR, which attracted 350 participants, has
a reputation as the most important global venue for regulators to share views
and experiences by fostering an open dialogue amongst themselves and with key
stakeholders, including the private sector, investors and consumers.
The need for regulators from both the developed and the developing world to
agree on such best practices for broadband access was viewed as essential to
achieve the objective of global connectivity by 2015, as outlined in the Plan of
Action endorsed by 175 countries at the World Summit on the Information Society
in Geneva last year. Broadband technologies are seen as a particularly efficient
way to achieve the connectivity goal because of their ability to overcome
distance, open up markets, and create employment while reducing costs.
"Broadband networks are the key to maximizing the promise of an evolving
and converging ICT sector," said Ms Kathleen Abernathy, Commissioner of the
US Federal Communications Commission and Chairman of the GSR, who also noted
that "new wireless and converging technologies that are sure to follow can
revolutionize our societies and help to close the broadband divide that exists
within and among our countries."
The regulators stressed however, that in order to achieve global connectivity
and to reap the social and economic benefits this will bring, would only be
possible if there is fair and reasonable access for competitive broadband
services, including Internet connectivity. Mr Touré applauded the work of
regulators from the developing world in this area, saying that, "in many
ways they are pioneering innovative uses of technologies such as broadband and
the regulatory frameworks needed to support those innovations."
As well during the GSR, the 2004 edition of the annual ITU publication
"Trends in Telecommunication Reform" was released. The report focuses
on the global trend to reduce licensing requirements and to adopt converged
licensing regimes that will enable service providers to offer any and all
services using the technology of their choice. More information about the
publication is available here.
This year’s GSR also showcased technology demonstrations by equipment
vendors and service providers to showcase new, low cost broadband and Internet
telecommunications equipment. Exhibitors included Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Intel
Corp., Intrado, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Midas Communication
Technologies Pvt, Nortel Networks Corp., Qualcomm Inc., TE Data, Texas
Instruments and Vivato.
The regulators closed their annual meeting by endorsing the "Best
Practice Guidelines for the Promotion of Low Cost Broadband and Internet
Connectivity", which outlines a common understanding of what is necessary
to create an information society that is more effective and equitable.
Top
World
Regulator Summit Endorses Unlicensed Sprectrum
475
Words
14 December 2004
Warren's Washington Internet Daily
wwid
Volume 5; Issue 239
English
(c) Copyright 2004 Warren Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Last week's ITU Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) in
Geneva provided international support for greater use worldwide of
"unlicensed" spectrum such as Wi-Fi -- a spectrum concept that is
increasingly significant in U.S. regulation, officials said. The regulators also
endorsed technological neutrality for the Internet, with neither wireline nor
wireless receiving an advantage.
Comr. Abernathy, who chaired the ITU meeting, told us Mon. she
was encouraged that the regulators from around the world had agreed to "a
best practices" document for broadband deployment with no dissent: "It
was amazing to me that we had 54 national authorities and we didn't have a
single one who felt the need to express any reservations."
In a potentially significant development, the regulators
endorsed language that encourages regulators to "allocate adequate spectrum
to facilitate the use of modern, cost effective broadband radiocommunications
technologies." The regulators encouraged "innovative approaches to
managing the spectrum resource such as the ability to share spectrum or
allocating on a license- exempt non-interference basis," or unlicensed
spectrum. Unlicensed spectrum is an increasingly important concept in U.S.
wireless regulation, but has faced some international opposition.
The regulators also endorsed technological neutrality,
including neutrality between wireline and wireless. "We encourage
regulators to adopt policies that are technology neutral and do not favor one
technology over another," the regulators recommended.
Abernathy, who has attended 2 other GSRs, said views on
unlicensed spectrum were changing. "A number of the countries are starting
to have a very real appreciation for both licensed and unlicensed
spectrum," Abernathy said: "There's a new appreciation that unlicensed
doesn't mean unregulated. A number of countries that have been pursuing this
emphasized that you just get more bang for your buck."
Several of the regulators indicated they would explore greater
use of unlicensed spectrum, Abernathy said. "Numerous countries decided to
go back and look into it further," she said. "For example, you may
love unlicensed, but you may go back and check and your statute may not
allow" greater use of unlicensed spectrum.
Abernathy also said the global consensus reflects a
recognition that broadband deployment will be critically important for people in
all countries, developed or developing. Abernathy also said that message should
be encouraging to high tech companies. "I was surprised at the degree of
consistency across all countries, regardless of the geography or the politics or
whether you are developed or developing," she said: "We are facing the
same challenges."
Abernathy said GSR received an initial report on spam, but the
next meeting, Oct. 2005 in Tunis, will look closer at that topic. Spam is a
significant issue in the developing world where many have limited access to
computers and must pay for access to their e-mail. The summit was the first
chaired by a U.S. regulator. -- Howard Buskirk
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