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Convention of ITU: Chapter I - Functioning of the Union

SECTION 1

ARTICLE 1 - Plenipotentiary Conference

1	1 1) The Plenipotentiary Conference shall be convened in accordance with the relevant provisions of Article 8 of the Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union (hereinafter referred to as "the Constitution").
2　　 PP-98	2) If practicable, the precise place and the exact dates of a plenipotentiary conference shall be set by the preceding plenipotentiary conference; failing this, they shall be fixed by the Council with the concurrence of the majority of the Member States.
3	2 1) The precise place and the exact dates of the next Plenipotentiary Conference, or either one of these, may be changed:
4　　 PP-98	a) when at least one-quarter of the Member States have individually proposed a change to the Secretary-General; or
5	b) on a proposal of the Council.
6　　 PP-98	2) Any such change shall require the concurrence of a majority of the Member States.

ARTICLE 2 - Elections and Related Matters

The Council

7　　 PP-98	1 Except in the case of vacancies arising in the circumstances described in Nos.　10 to 12 below, the Member States elected to the Council shall hold office until the date on which a new Council is elected. They shall be eligible for reelection.
8　　 PP-98	2 1) If, between two plenipotentiary conferences, a seat becomes vacant on the Council, it shall pass by right to the Member State from the same region as the Member State whose seat is vacated which had obtained at the previous election the largest number of votes among those not elected.
9　　 PP-98	2) When for any reason a vacant seat cannot be filled according to the procedure of No. 8 above, the Chairman of the Council shall invite the other Member States of the region to seek election within one month of such an invitation being issued. At the end of this period, the Chairman of the Council shall invite Member States to elect a new Member State of the Council. The election shall be carried out by secret ballot by correspondence. The same majority as indicated above will be required. The new Member State of the Council shall hold office until the election of the new Council by the next competent plenipotentiary conference.
10	3 A seat on the Council shall be considered vacant:
11 PP-02	a) when a Member State of the Council does not have a representative in attendance at two consecutive ordinary sessions of the Council;
12　　 PP-98	b) when a Member State resigns its membership of the Council.

Elected officials

13 PP-06	1 The Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and the Directors of the Bureaux shall take up their duties on the dates determined by the Plenipotentiary Conference at the time of their election. They shall normally remain in office until dates determined by the following plenipotentiary conference, and they shall be eligible for re-election once only for the same post. Re-election shall mean that it is possible for only a second term, regardless of whether it is consecutive or not.
14	2 If the post of Secretary-General falls vacant, the Deputy Secretary-General shall succeed to it and shall remain in office until a date determined by the following Plenipotentiary Conference. When under these conditions the Deputy Secretary-General succeeds to the office of the Secretary-General, the post of Deputy Secretary-General shall be considered to fall vacant on that same date and the provisions of No. 15 below shall be applied.
15	3 If the post of Deputy Secretary-General falls vacant more than 180　days prior to the date set for the convening of the next Plenipotentiary Conference, the Council shall appoint a successor for the balance of the term.
16	4 If the posts of the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General fall vacant simultaneously, the Director who has been longest in office shall discharge the duties of Secretary-General for a period not exceeding 90 days. The Council shall appoint a Secretary-General and, if the vacancies occur more than 180 days prior to the date set for the convening of the next Plenipotentiary Conference, a Deputy Secretary-General. An official thus appointed by the Council shall serve for the balance of the term for which his predecessor was elected.
17	5 If the post of a Director becomes unexpectedly vacant, the Secretary-General shall take the necessary steps to ensure that the duties of that Director are carried out until the Council shall appoint a new Director at its next ordinary session following the occurrence of such a vacancy. A Director so appointed shall serve until the date fixed by the next Plenipotentiary Conference.
18	6 Subject to the relevant provisions of Article 27 of the Constitution, the Council shall provide for the filling of any vacancy in the post of Secretary-General or Deputy Secretary-General in the situation described in the relevant provisions of the present Article at an ordinary session, if held within 90 days after a vacancy occurs, or at a session convened by the Chairman within the periods specified in those provisions.
19	7 Any period of service in the post of an elected official pursuant to an appointment under Nos. 14 to 18 above shall not affect eligibility for election or re-election to such a post.

Members of the Radio Regulations Board

20 PP-06	1 The members of the Radio Regulations Board shall take up their duties on the dates determined by the Plenipotentiary Conference at the time of their election. They shall remain in office until dates determined by the following plenipotentiary conference, and shall be eligible for re-election once only. Re-election shall mean that it is possible for only a second term, regardless of whether it is consecutive or not.
21 PP-02	2 If, in the interval between two plenipotentiary conferences, a member of the Board resigns or is no longer in a position to perform his duties, the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau, shall invite the Member States of the region concerned to propose candidates for the election of a replacement at the next session of the Council. However, if the vacancy occurs more than 90 days before a session of the Council or after the session of the Council preceding the next plenipotentiary conference, the Member State concerned shall designate, as soon as possible and within 90 days, another national as a replacement who will remain in office until the new member elected by the Council takes office or until the new members of the Board elected by the next plenipotentiary conference take office, as appropriate. The replacement shall be eligible for election by the Council or by the Plenipotentiary Conference, as appropriate.
22 PP-02	3 A member of the Radio Regulations Board is considered no longer in a position to perform his duties after three consecutive absences from the Board meetings. The Secretary-General shall, after consultation with the Board’s Chairman as well as the member of the Board and the Member State concerned, declare existence of a vacancy in the Board and shall proceed as stipulated in No.　21 above.

ARTICLE 3 - PP-98 Other Conferences and Assemblies

23　　 PP-98	1 In conformity with the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the following world conferences and assemblies of the Union shall normally be convened within the period between two plenipotentiary conferences:
24　　 PP-98	a) one or two world radiocommunication conferences;
25　　 PP-98	b) one world telecommunication standardization assembly;
26	c) one world telecommunication development conference;
27　　 PP-98	d) one or two radiocommunication assemblies.
28	2 Exceptionally, within the period between Plenipotentiary Conferences:
29 PP-98	(SUP)
30　　 PP-98	– an additional world telecommunication standardization assembly may be convened.
31	3 These actions shall be taken:
32	a) by a decision of a Plenipotentiary Conference;
33　　 PP-98	b) on the recommendation of the previous world conference or assembly of the Sector concerned, if approved by the Council; in the case of a radiocommunication assembly, the recommendation of the assembly shall be transmitted to the following world radiocommunication conference for comments for the attention of the Council;
34　　 PP-98	c) at the request of at least one-quarter of the Member States, which shall individually address their requests to the Secretary-General; or
35	d) on a proposal of the Council.
36	4 A regional radiocommunication conference shall be convened:
37	a) by a decision of a Plenipotentiary Conference;
38	b) on the recommendation of a previous world or regional radiocommunication conference if approved by the Council;
39　　 PP-98	c) at the request of at least one-quarter of the Member States belonging to the region concerned, which shall individually address their requests to the Secretary-General; or
40	d) on a proposal of the Council.
41　　 PP-98	5 1) The precise place and the exact dates of a world or regional conference or an assembly of a Sector may be fixed by a plenipotentiary conference.
42　　 PP-98	2) In the absence of such a decision, the Council shall determine the precise place and the exact dates of a world conference or an assembly of a Sector with the concurrence of a majority of the Member States, and of a regional conference with the concurrence of a majority of the Member States belonging to the region concerned; in both cases the provisions of No. 47 below shall apply.
43	6 1) The precise place and the exact dates of a conference or assembly may be changed:
44　　 PP-98	a) at the request of at least one-quarter of the Member States in the case of a world conference or an assembly of a Sector, or of at least one-quarter of the　Member States belonging to the region concerned in the case of a regional conference. Their requests shall be addressed individually to the Secretary-General, who shall transmit them to the Council for approval; or
45	b) on a proposal of the Council.
46　　 PP-98	2) In the cases specified in Nos. 44 and 45 above, the changes proposed shall not be finally adopted until accepted by a majority of the Member States, in the case of a world conference or an assembly of a Sector, or by a majority of the Member States belonging to the region concerned, in the case of a regional conference, subject to the provisions of No. 47 below.
47　　 PP-98 PP-02	7 In the consultations referred to in Nos.　42, 46, 118, 123 and 138 of this Convention and in Nos.　26, 28, 29, 31 and 36 of the General Rules of conferences, assemblies and meetings of the Union, Member States which have not replied within the time-limits specified by the Council shall be regarded as not participating in the consultations, and in consequence shall not be taken into account in computing the majority. If the number of replies does not exceed one-half of the Member States consulted, a further consultation shall take place, the results of which shall be decisive regardless of the number of votes cast.
48	8 1) World conferences on international telecommunications shall be held upon decision by the Plenipotentiary Conference.
49	2) The provisions for the convening of, the adoption of the agenda of, and the participation in a world radiocommunication conference shall, as appropriate, equally apply to world conferences on international telecommunications.

SECTION 2

ARTICLE 4 - The Council

50　　 PP-94　　 PP-98	1 1) The number of Member States of the Council shall be determined by the Plenipotentiary Conference which is held every four years.
50A　　 PP-94　　 PP-98	2) This number shall not exceed 25% of the total number of Member States.
51	2 1) The Council shall hold an ordinary session annually at the seat of the Union.
52	2) During this session it may decide to hold, exceptionally, an additional session.
53　　 PP-98	3) Between ordinary sessions, it may be convened, as a general rule at the seat of the Union, by the Chairman at the request of a majority of its Member States, or on the initiative of the Chairman under the conditions provided for in No. 18 of this Convention.
54	3 The Council shall take decisions only in session. Exceptionally, the Council in session may agree that any specific issue shall be decided by correspondence.
55　　 PP-98	4 At the beginning of each ordinary session, the Council shall elect its own Chairman and Vice-Chairman from among the representatives of its Member States, taking into account the principle of rotation between the regions. They shall serve until the opening of the next ordinary session and shall not be eligible for re-election. The Vice-Chairman shall serve as Chairman in the absence of the latter.
56　　 PP-98	5 The person appointed to serve on the Council by a Member State of the Council shall, so far as possible, be an official serving in, or directly responsible to, or for, their telecommunication administration and qualified in the field of telecommunication services.
57　　 PP-98 PP-02	6 Only the travelling, subsistence and insurance expenses incurred by the representative of each Member State of the Council, belonging to the category of developing countries, the list of which is established by the United Nations Development Programme, in that capacity at Council sessions, shall be borne by the Union.
58　　 PP-98 PP-06	(SUP)
59	8 The Secretary-General shall act as Secretary of the Council.
60　　 PP-98	9 The Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and the Directors of the Bureaux may participate as of right in the deliberations of the Council, but without taking part in the voting. Nevertheless, the Council may hold meetings confined to the representatives of its Member States.
60A　　 PP-98 PP-02	9　bis) A Member State which is not a Member State of the Council may, with prior notice to the Secretary-General, send one observer at its own expense to meetings of the Council, its committees and its working groups. An observer shall not have the right to vote.
60B　　 PP-98 PP-02 PP-06	9　ter) Sector Members may attend, as observers, meetings of the Council, its committees and its working groups, subject to the conditions established by the Council, including conditions relating to the number of such observers and the procedures for appointing them.
61　　 PP-98	10 The Council shall consider each year the report prepared by the Secretary-General on implementation of the strategic plan adopted by the Plenipotentiary Conference and shall take appropriate action.
61A　　 PP-02	10　bis) While at all times respecting the financial limits as adopted by the Plenipotentiary Conference, the Council may, as necessary, review and update the strategic plan which forms the basis of the corresponding operational plans and inform the Member States and Sector Members accordingly.
61B　　 PP-02	10　ter) The Council shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.
62	11 The Council shall, in the interval between two Plenipotentiary Conferences, supervise the overall management and administration of the Union; it shall in particular:
62A PP-02	1) receive and review the specific data for strategic planning that is provided by the Secretary-General as noted in No. 74A of the Constitution and, in the last but one ordinary session of the Council before the next plenipotentiary conference, initiate the preparation of a draft new strategic plan for the Union, drawing upon input from Member States, Sector Members and the Sector advisory groups, and produce a coordinated draft new strategic plan at least four months before that plenipotentiary conference;
62B PP-02	1　bis) establish a calendar for the development of strategic and financial plans for the Union, and of operational plans for each Sector and for the General Secretariat, so as to allow for the development of appropriate linkage among the plans;
63	1　ter) approve and revise the Staff Regulations and the Financial Regulations of the Union and any other regulations as it may consider necessary, taking account of current practice of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies applying the common system of pay, allowances and pensions;
64	2) adjust as necessary:
65	a) the basic salary scales for staff in the professional and higher categories, excluding the salaries for posts filled by election, to accord with any changes in the basic salary scales adopted by the United Nations for the corresponding common system categories;
66	b) the basic salary scales for staff in the general services categories to accord with changes in the rates applied by the United Nations and the specialized agencies at the seat of the Union;
67	c) the post adjustment for professional and higher categories, including posts filled by election, in accordance with decisions of the United Nations for application at the seat of the Union;
68	d) the allowances for all staff of the Union, in accordance with any changes adopted in the United Nations common system;
69　　 PP-98	3) take decisions to ensure equitable geographical distribution and representation of women in the Professional and higher categories in the staff of the Union and monitor the implementation of such decisions;
70	4) decide on proposals for major organizational changes within the General Secretariat and the Bureaux of the Sectors of the Union consistent with the Constitution and this Convention, submitted to it by the Secretary-General following their consideration by the Coordination Committee;
71	5) examine and decide on plans concerning Union posts and staff and human resources development programmes covering several years, and give guidelines for the staffing of the Union, including on staffing levels and structures, taking into account the guidelines given by the Plenipotentiary Conference and the relevant provisions of Article 27 of the Constitution;
72	6) adjust, as necessary, the contributions payable by the Union and its staff to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, in accordance with the Fund’s rules and regulations, as well as the cost of living allowances to be granted to beneficiaries of the Union Staff Superannuation and Benevolent Funds on the basis of the practice followed by the Fund;
73　　 PP-98 PP-02 PP-06	7) review and approve the biennial budget of the Union, and consider the budget forecast (included in the financial operating report prepared by the Secretary-General under No. 101 of this Convention) for the two-year period following a given budget period, taking account of the decisions of the Plenipotentiary Conference in relation to No.　50 of the Constitution and of the financial limits set by the Plenipotentiary Conference in accordance with No.　51 of the Constitution; it shall ensure the strictest possible economy but be mindful of the obligation upon the Union to achieve satisfactory results as expeditiously as possible. In so doing, the Council shall take into account the priorities established by the Plenipotentiary Conference as expressed in the strategic plan for the Union, the views of the Coordination Committee as contained in the report by the Secretary-General mentioned in No.　86 of this Convention and the financial operating report mentioned in No.　101 of this Convention. The Council shall carry out an annual review of income and expenditure with a view to effecting adjustments, where appropriate, in accordance with resolutions and decisions of the Plenipotentiary Conference;
74	8) arrange for the annual audit of the accounts of the Union prepared by the Secretary-General and approve them, if appropriate, for submission to the next Plenipotentiary Conference;
75　　 PP-98	9) arrange for the convening of the conferences and assemblies of the Union and provide, with the consent of a majority of the Member States in the case of a world conference or assembly, or of a majority of the Member States belonging to the region concerned in the case of a regional conference, appropriate directives to the General Secretariat and the Sectors of the Union with regard to their technical and other assistance in the preparation for and organization of conferences and assemblies;
76	10) take decisions in relation to No. 28 of this Convention;
77	11) decide upon the implementation of any decisions which have been taken by conferences and which have financial implications;
78	12) to the extent permitted by the Constitution, this Convention and the Administrative Regulations, take any other action deemed necessary for the proper functioning of the Union;
79　　 PP-98 PP-02	13) take any necessary steps, with the agreement of a majority of the Member States, provisionally to resolve questions not covered by the Constitution, this Convention and the Administrative Regulations and which cannot await the next competent conference for settlement;
80　　 PP-94 PP-06	14) be responsible for effecting the coordination with all international organizations referred to in Articles 49 and 50 of the Constitution and, to this end, conclude, on behalf of the Union, provisional agreements with the international organizations referred to in Article 50 of the Constitution and in Nos. 269B and 269C of this Convention, and with the United Nations in application of the Agreement between the United Nations and the International Telecommunication Union; these provisional agreements shall be submitted to the Plenipotentiary Conference in accordance with the relevant provision of Article 8 of the Constitution;
81　　 PP-98 PP-02	15) send to Member States, within 30 days after each of its sessions, summary records on the activities of the Council and other documents deemed useful;
82	16) submit to the Plenipotentiary Conference a report on the activities of the Union since the previous Plenipotentiary Conference and any appropriate recommendations.

SECTION 3

ARTICLE 5 - General Secretariat

83	1 The Secretary-General shall:
84	a) be responsible for the overall management of the Union’s resources; he may delegate the management of part of these resources to the Deputy Secretary-General and the Directors of the Bureaux, in consultation as necessary with the Coordination Committee;
85	b) coordinate the activities of the General Secretariat and the Sectors of the Union, taking into account the views of the Coordination Committee, with a view to assuring the most effective and economical use of the resources of the Union;
86　　 PP-98	c) prepare, with the assistance of the Coordination Committee, and submit to the Council a report indicating changes in the telecommunication environment since the last plenipotentiary conference and containing recommended action relating to the Union’s future policies and strategy, together with their financial implications;
86A　　 PP-98	c　bis) coordinate implementation of the strategic plan adopted by the Plenipotentiary Conference and prepare an annual report on this implementation for review by the Council;
87	d) organize the work of the General Secretariat and appoint the staff of that Secretariat in accordance with the directives of the Plenipotentiary Conference and the rules established by the Council;
87A　　 PP-98 PP-02	d　bis) prepare annually a four-year rolling operational plan of activities to be undertaken by the staff of the General Secretariat consistent with the strategic plan, covering the subsequent year and the following three-year period, including financial implications, taking due account of the financial plan as approved by the plenipotentiary conference; this four-year operational plan shall be reviewed by the advisory groups of all three Sectors, and shall be reviewed and approved annually by the Council;
88	e) undertake administrative arrangements for the Bureaux of the Sectors of the Union and appoint their staff on the basis of the choice and proposals of the Director of the Bureau concerned, although the final decision for appointment or dismissal shall rest with the Secretary-General;
89	f) report to the Council any decisions taken by the United Nations and the specialized agencies which affect common system conditions of service, allowances and pensions;
90	g) ensure the application of any regulations adopted by the Council;
91	h) provide legal advice to the Union;
92	i) supervise, for administrative management purposes, the staff of the Union with a view to assuring the most effective use of personnel and the application of the common system conditions of employment for the staff of the Union. The staff appointed to assist directly the Directors of the Bureaux shall be under the administrative control of the Secretary-General and shall work under the direct orders of the Directors concerned but in accordance with administrative guidelines given by the Council;
93	j) in the interest of the Union as a whole and in consultation with the Directors of the Bureaux concerned, temporarily reassign staff members from their appointed position as necessary to meet fluctuating work requirements at headquarters;
94	k) make, in agreement with the Director of the Bureau concerned, the necessary administrative and financial arrangements for the conferences and meetings of each Sector;
95	l) taking into account the responsibilities of the Sectors, undertake appropriate secretariat work preparatory to and following conferences of the Union;
96 PP-06	m) prepare recommendations for the first meeting of the heads of delegation referred to in No. 49 of the General Rules of conferences, assemblies and meetings of the Union, taking into account the results of any regional consultation;
97	n) provide, where appropriate in cooperation with the inviting government, the secretariat of conferences of the Union, and provide the facilities and services for meetings of the Union, in collaboration, as appropriate, with the Director concerned, drawing from the Union’s staff as he deems necessary in accordance with No. 93 above. The Secretary-General may also, when so requested, provide the secretariat of other telecommunication meetings on a contractual basis;
98	o) take necessary action for the timely publication and distribution of service documents, information bulletins, and other documents and records prepared by the General Secretariat and the Sectors, communicated to the Union or whose publication is requested by conferences or the Council; the list of documents to be published shall be maintained by the Council, following consultation with the conference concerned, with respect to service documents and other documents whose publication is requested by conferences;
99	p) publish periodically, with the help of information put at his disposal or which he may collect, including that which he may obtain from other international organizations, a journal of general information and documentation concerning telecommunication;
100　　 PP-98 PP-06	q) after consultation with the Coordination Committee and making all possible economies, prepare and submit to the Council a biennial draft budget covering the expenditures of the Union, taking account of the financial limits laid down by the Plenipotentiary Conference. This draft shall consist of a consolidated budget, including cost-based and results-based budget information for the Union, prepared in accordance with the budget guidelines issued by the Secretary-General, and comprising two versions. One version shall be for zero growth of the contributory unit, the other for a growth less than or equal to any limit fixed by the Plenipotentiary Conference, after any drawing on the Reserve Account. The budget resolution, after approval by the Council, shall be sent for information to all Member States;
101	r) with the assistance of the Coordination Committee, prepare an annual financial operating report in accordance with the Financial Regulations and submit it to the Council. A recapitulative financial operating report and accounts shall be prepared and submitted to the next Plenipotentiary Conference for examination and final approval;
102　　 PP-98	s) with the assistance of the Coordination Committee, prepare an annual report on the activities of the Union which, after approval by the Council, shall be sent to all Member States;
102A　　 PP-98	s　bis) manage the special arrangements referred to in No. 76A of the Constitution, the cost of this management being borne by the signatories of the arrangement in a manner agreed between them and the Secretary-General.
103	t) perform all other secretarial functions of the Union;
104	u) perform any other functions entrusted to him by the Council.
105 PP-06	2 The Secretary-General or the Deputy Secretary-General may participate, in an advisory capacity, in conferences of the Union; the Secretary-General or his representative may participate in an advisory capacity in all other meetings of the Union.

SECTION 4

ARTICLE 6 - Coordination Committee

106	1 1) The Coordination Committee shall assist and advise the Secretary-General on all matters mentioned under the relevant provisions of Article 26 of the Constitution and the relevant Articles of this Convention.
107	2) The Committee shall be responsible for ensuring coordination with all the international organizations mentioned in Articles 49 and 50 of the Constitution as regards representation of the Union at conferences of such organizations.
108	3) The Committee shall examine the progress of the work of the Union and assist the Secretary-General in the preparation of the report referred to in No.　86 of this Convention for submission to the Council.
109　　 PP-98	2 The Committee shall endeavour to reach conclusions unanimously. In the absence of the support of the majority in the Committee, its Chairman may in exceptional circumstances take decisions, on the Chairman’s own responsibility, when judging that the decision of the matters in question is urgent and cannot await the next session of the Council. In such circumstances the Chairman shall report promptly in writing on such matters to the Member States of the Council, setting forth the reasons for such action together with any other written views submitted by other members of the Committee. If in such circumstances the matters are not urgent, but nevertheless important, they shall be submitted for consideration by the next session of the Council.
110	3 The Chairman shall convene the Committee at least once a month; the Committee may also be convened when necessary at the request of two of its members.
111 PP-02 PP-06	4 A report shall be made of the proceedings of the Coordination Committee and shall be made available to the Member States.

SECTION 5 - Radiocommunication Sector

ARTICLE 7 - World Radiocommunication Conference

112	1 In accordance with No. 90 of the Constitution, a world radiocommunication conference shall be convened to consider specific radiocommunication matters. A world radiocommunication conference shall deal with those items which are included in its agenda adopted in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Article.
113	2 1) The agenda of a world radiocommunication conference may include:
114	a) the partial or, exceptionally, complete revision of the Radio Regulations referred to in Article 4 of the Constitution;
115	b) any other question of a worldwide character within the competence of the conference;
116	c) an item concerning instructions to the Radio Regulations Board and the Radiocommunication Bureau regarding their activities, and a review of those activities;
117　　 PP-98	d) the identification of topics to be studied by the radiocommunication assembly and the radiocommunication study groups, as well as matters that the assembly shall consider in relation to future radiocommunication conferences.
118　　 PP-94　　 PP-98	2) The general scope of this agenda should be established four to six years in advance, and the final agenda shall be established by the Council preferably two years before the conference, with the concurrence of a majority of the Member States, subject to the provisions of No.　47 of this Convention. These two versions of the agenda shall be established on the basis of the recommendations of the world radiocommunication conference, in accordance with No. 126 of this Convention.
119	3) This agenda shall include any question which a Plenipotentiary Conference has directed to be placed on the agenda.
120	3 1) This agenda may be changed:
121　　 PP-98	a) at the request of at least one-quarter of the Member States. Such requests shall be addressed individually to the Secretary-General, who shall transmit them to the Council for approval; or
122	b) on a proposal of the Council.
123　　 PP-98	2) The proposed changes to the agenda of a world radiocommunication conference shall not be finally adopted until accepted by a majority of the Member States, subject to the provisions of No. 47 of this Convention.
124	4 The conference shall also:
125	1) consider and approve the report of the Director of the Bureau on the activities of the Sector since the last conference;
126	2) recommend to the Council items for inclusion in the agenda of a future conference and give its views on such agendas for at least a four-year cycle of radiocommunication conferences, together with an estimate of the financial implications;
127	3) include, in its decisions, instructions or requests, as appropriate, to the Secretary-General and the Sectors of the Union.
128	5 The Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the radiocommunication assembly, or of relevant study groups, may participate in the associated world radiocommunication conference.

ARTICLE 8- Radiocommunication Assembly

129	1 A radiocommunication assembly shall deal with and issue, as appropriate, recommendations on questions adopted pursuant to its own procedures or referred to it by the Plenipotentiary Conference, any other conference, the Council or the Radio Regulations Board.
129A PP-02	1　bis) The radiocommunication assembly is authorized to adopt the working methods and procedures for the management of the Sector’s activities in accordance with No. 145A of the Constitution.
130	2 With regard to No. 129 above, the radiocommunication assembly shall:
131　　 PP-98	1) consider the reports of study groups prepared in accordance with No.　157 of this Convention and approve, modify or reject the draft recommendations contained in those reports, and consider the reports of the radiocommunication advisory group prepared in accordance with No. 160H of this Convention;
132	2) bearing in mind the need to keep the demands on the resources of the Union to a minimum, approve the programme of work arising from the review of existing questions and new questions and determine the priority, urgency, estimated financial implications and time-scale for the completion of their study;
133	3) decide, in the light of the approved programme of work derived from No. 132 above, on the need to maintain, terminate or establish study groups, and allocate to each of them the questions to be studied;
134	4) group questions of interest to the developing countries as far as possible, in order to facilitate their participation in the study of those questions;
135	5) give advice on matters within its competence in response to requests from a world radiocommunication conference;
136　　 PP-98	6) report to the following world radiocommunication conference on the progress in matters that may be included in the agenda of future radiocommunication conferences;
136A　　 PP-02	7) decide on the need to maintain, terminate or establish other groups and appoint their chairmen and vice-chairmen;
136B　　 PP-02	8) establish the terms of reference for the groups referred to in No.　136A above; such groups shall not adopt questions or recommendations.
137	3 A radiocommunication assembly shall be presided over by a person designated by the government of the country in which the meeting is held or, in the case of a meeting held at the seat of the Union, by a person elected by the assembly itself. The Chairman shall be assisted by Vice-Chairmen elected by the assembly.
137A　　 PP-98 PP-02	4 A radiocommunication assembly may assign specific matters within its competence, except those relating to the procedures contained in the Radio Regulations, to the radiocommunication advisory group indicating the action required on those matters.

ARTICLE 9 - Regional Radiocommunication Conferences

138　　
PP-98

The agenda of a regional radiocommunication conference may provide only for specific radiocommunication questions of a regional nature, including instructions to the Radio Regulations Board and the Radiocommunication Bureau regarding their activities in respect of the region concerned, provided such instructions do not conflict with the interests of other regions. Only items included in its agenda may be discussed by such a conference. The provisions contained in Nos.　118 to 123 of this Convention shall apply to a regional radiocommunication conference, but only with regard to the Member States of the region concerned.

ARTICLE 10 - Radio Regulations Board

139 PP-98	(SUP)
140 PP-02	2 In addition to the duties specified in Article　14 of the Constitution, the Board shall: 1) consider reports from the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau on investigations of harmful interference carried out at the request of one or more of the interested administrations, and formulate recommendations with respect thereto;
	2) also, independently of the Radiocommunication Bureau, at the request of one or more of the interested administrations, consider appeals against decisions made by the Radiocommunication Bureau regarding frequency assignments.
141 PP-02	3 The members of the Board shall participate, in an advisory capacity, in radiocommunication conferences. In this case, they shall not participate in these conferences as members of their national delegations.
141A PP-02	3　bis) Two members of the Board, designated by the Board, shall participate, in an advisory capacity, in plenipotentiary conferences and radiocommunication assemblies. In these cases, the two members designated by the Board shall not participate in these conferences or assemblies as members of their national delegations.
142	4 Only the travelling, subsistence and insurance expenses incurred by the members of the Board in the exercise of their duties for the Union shall be borne by the Union.
142A PP-02	4　bis) The members of the Board shall, while in the exercise of their duties for the Union, as specified in the Constitution and Convention, or while on mission for the Union, enjoy functional privileges and immunities equivalent to those granted to the elected officials of the Union by each Member State, subject to the relevant provisions of the national legislation or other applicable legislation in each Member State. Such functional privileges and immunities are granted to members of the Board for the purposes of the Union and not for their personal advantage. The Union may and shall withdraw the immunity granted to a member of the Board whenever it considers that such immunity is contrary to the orderly administration of justice and its withdrawal is not prejudicial to the interests of the Union.
143	5 The working methods of the Board shall be as follows:
144	1) The members of the Board shall elect from their own members a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman for a period of one year. Thereafter the Vice-Chairman shall succeed the Chairman each year and a new Vice-Chairman shall be elected. In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, the Board shall elect a temporary Chairman for the occasion from among its members.
145 PP-02	2) The Board shall normally hold up to four meetings a year, of up to five days’ duration, generally at the seat of the Union, at which at least two-thirds of its members shall be present, and may carry out its duties using modern means of communication. However, if the Board deems necessary, depending upon the matters to be considered, it may increase the number of its meetings. Exceptionally, the meetings may be of up to two weeks’ duration.
146	3) The Board shall endeavour to reach its decisions unanimously. If it fails in that endeavour, a decision shall be valid only if at least two-thirds of the members of the Board vote in favour thereof. Each member of the Board shall have one vote; voting by proxy is not allowed.
147	4) The Board may make such internal arrangements as it considers necessary in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution, this Convention and the Radio Regulations. Such arrangements shall be published as part of the Board’s Rules of Procedure.

ARTICLE 11 - Radiocommunication Study Groups

148	1 Radiocommunication study groups are set up by a radiocommunication assembly.
149　　 PP-98	2 1) The radiocommunication study groups shall study questions adopted in accordance with a procedure established by the radiocommunication assembly and prepare draft recommendations to be adopted in accordance with the procedure set forth in Nos. 246A to 247 of this Convention.
149A　　 PP-98	1　bis) The radiocommunication study groups shall also study topics identified in resolutions and recommendations of world radiocommunication conferences. The results of such studies shall be included in recommendations or in the reports prepared in accordance with No. 156 below.
150　　 PP-98	2) The study of the above questions and topics shall, subject to No.　158 below, focus on the following:
151　　 PP-98	a) use of the radio-frequency spectrum in terrestrial and space radiocommunication and of the geostationary-satellite and other satellite orbits;
152	b) characteristics and performance of radio systems;
153	c) operation of radio stations;
154	d) radiocommunication aspects of distress and safety matters.
155　　 PP-98	3) These studies shall not generally address economic questions, but when they involve comparing technical or operational alternatives, economic factors may be taken into consideration.
156	3 The radiocommunication study groups shall also carry out preparatory studies of the technical, operational and procedural matters to be considered by world and regional radiocommunication conferences and elaborate reports thereon in accordance with a programme of work adopted in this respect by a radiocommunication assembly or following instructions by the Council.
157	4 Each study group shall prepare for the radiocommunication assembly a report indicating the progress of work, the recommendations adopted in accordance with the consultation procedure contained in No.　149 above and any draft new or revised recommendations for consideration by the assembly.
158	5 Taking into account No. 79 of the Constitution, the tasks enumerated in Nos. 151 to 154 above and in No. 193 of this Convention in relation to the Telecommunication Standardization Sector shall be kept under continuing review by the Radiocommunication Sector and the Telecommunication Standardization Sector with a view to reaching common agreement on changes in the distribution of matters under study. The two Sectors shall cooperate closely and adopt procedures to conduct such a review and reach agreements in a timely and effective manner. If agreement is not reached, the matter may be submitted through the Council to the Plenipotentiary Conference for decision.
159	6 In the performance of their studies, the radiocommunication study groups shall pay due attention to the study of questions and to the formulation of recommendations directly connected with the establishment, development and improvement of telecommunications in developing countries at both the regional and international levels. They shall conduct their work giving due consideration to the work of national, regional and other international organizations concerned with radiocommunication and cooperate with them, keeping in mind the need for the Union to maintain its pre-eminent position in the field of telecommunications.
160	7 For the purpose of facilitating the review of activities in the Radiocommunication Sector, measures should be taken to foster cooperation and coordination with other organizations concerned with radiocommunication and with the Telecommunication Standardization Sector and the Telecommunication Development Sector. A radiocommunication assembly shall determine the specific duties, conditions of participation and rules of procedure for these measures.

ARTICLE 11A - PP-98 Radiocommunication Advisory Group

160A　　 PP-98 PP-02	1 The radiocommunication advisory group shall be open to representatives of administrations of Member States and representatives of Sector Members and to chairmen of the study groups and other groups, and will act through the Director.
160B　　 PP-98	2 The radiocommunication advisory group shall:
160C　　 PP-98 PP-02	1) review priorities, programmes, operations, financial matters and strategies related to radiocommunication assemblies, study groups and other groups and the preparation of radiocommunication conferences, and any specific matters as directed by a conference of the Union, a radiocommunication assembly or the Council;
160CA　　 PP-02	1　bis) review the implementation of the operational plan of the preceding period in order to identify areas in which the Bureau has not achieved or was not able to achieve the objectives laid down in that plan, and advise the Director on the necessary corrective measures;
160D　　 PP-98	2) review progress in the implementation of the programme of work established under No. 132 of this Convention;
160E　　 PP-98	3) provide guidelines for the work of study groups;
160F　　 PP-98	4) recommend measures, inter alia, to foster cooperation and coordination with other standards bodies, with the Telecommunication Standardization Sector, the Telecommunication Development Sector and the General Secretariat;
160G　　 PP-98	5) adopt its own working procedures compatible with those adopted by the radiocommunication assembly;
160H　　 PP-98	6) prepare a report for the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau indicating action in respect of the above items;
160I　　 PP-02	7) prepare a report for the Radiocommunication Assembly on the matters assigned to it in accordance with No.　137A of this Convention and transmit it to the Director for submission to the assembly.

ARTICLE 12 - Radiocommunication Bureau

161	1 The Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau shall organize and coordinate the work of the Radiocommunication Sector. The duties of the Bureau are supplemented by those specified in provisions of the Radio Regulations.
162	2 The Director shall, in particular,
163	1) in relation to radiocommunication conferences:
164　　 PP-98 PP-02	a) coordinate the preparatory work of the study groups and other groups and the Bureau, communicate to the Member States and Sector Members the results of this preparatory work, collect their comments and submit a consolidated report to the conference which may include proposals of a regulatory nature;
165 PP-02	b) participate as of right, but in an advisory capacity, in the deliberations of radiocommunication conferences, of the radiocommunication assembly and of the radiocommunication study groups and other groups. The Director shall make all necessary preparations for radiocommunication conferences and meetings of the Radiocommunication Sector in consultation with the General Secretariat in accordance with No. 94 of this Convention and, as appropriate, with the other Sectors of the Union, and with due regard for the directives of the Council in carrying out these preparations;
166	c) provide assistance to the developing countries in their preparations for radiocommunication conferences.
167	2) in relation to the Radio Regulations Board:
168	a) prepare and submit draft Rules of Procedure for approval by the Radio Regulations Board; they shall include, inter alia, calculation methods and data required for the application of the provisions of the Radio Regulations;
169　　 PP-98 PP-02	b) distribute to all Member States the Rules of Procedure of the Board, collect comments thereon received from administrations and submit them to the Board;
170 PP-02	c) process information received from administrations in application of the relevant provisions of the Radio Regulations and regional agreements and their associated Rules of Procedure and prepare it, as appropriate, in a form suitable for publication;
171	d) apply the Rules of Procedure approved by the Board, prepare and publish findings based on those Rules, and submit to the Board any review of a finding which is requested by an administration and which cannot be resolved by the use of those Rules of Procedure;
172	e) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Radio Regulations, effect an orderly recording and registration of frequency assignments and, where appropriate, the associated orbital characteristics, and keep up to date the Master International Frequency Register; review entries in that Register with a view to amending or eliminating, as appropriate, those which do not reflect actual frequency usage, in agreement with the administration concerned;
173	f) assist in the resolution of cases of harmful interference, at the request of one or more of the interested administrations, and where necessary, make investigations and prepare, for consideration by the Board, a report including draft recommendations to the administrations concerned;
174	g) act as executive secretary to the Board;
175 PP-02	3) coordinate the work of the radiocommunication study groups and other groups and be responsible for the organization of that work;
175A　　 PP-98	3　bis) provide the necessary support for the radiocommunication advisory group, and report each year to Member States and Sector Members and to the Council on the results of the work of the advisory group.
175B　　 PP-98 PP-02	3　ter) take practical measures to facilitate the participation of developing countries in the radiocommunication study groups and other groups.
176	4) also undertake the following:
177　　 PP-98	a) carry out studies to furnish advice with a view to the operation of the maximum practicable number of radio channels in those portions of the spectrum where harmful interference may occur, and with a view to the equitable, effective and economical use of the geostationary-satellite and other satellite orbits, taking into account the needs of Member States requiring assistance, the specific needs of developing countries, as well as the special geographical situation of particular countries;
178　　 PP-98 PP-06	b) exchange with Member States and Sector Members data in machine-readable and other forms, prepare and keep up to date any documents and databases of the Radiocommunication Sector, and arrange with the Secretary-General, as appropriate, for their publication in the languages of the Union in accordance with No. 172 of the Constitution;
179	c) maintain such essential records as may be required;
180　　 PP-98 PP-02	d) submit to the world radiocommunication conference a report on the activities of the Radiocommunication Sector since the last conference; if a world radiocommunication conference is not planned, a report on the activities of the Sector covering the period since the last conference shall be submitted to the Council and, for information, to Member States and Sector Members;
181	e) prepare a cost-based budget estimate for the requirements of the Radiocommunication Sector and transmit it to the Secretary-General for consideration by the Coordination Committee and inclusion in the Union’s budget.
181A　　 PP-98 PP-02	f) prepare annually a rolling four-year operational plan that covers the subsequent year and the following three-year period, including financial implications of activities to be undertaken by the Bureau in support of the Sector as a whole; this four-year operational plan shall be reviewed by the radiocommunication advisory group in accordance with Article　11A of this Convention, and shall be reviewed and approved annually by the Council;
182	3 The Director shall choose the technical and administrative personnel of the Bureau within the framework of the budget as approved by the Council. The appointment of the technical and administrative personnel is made by the Secretary-General in agreement with the Director. The final decision for appointment or dismissal rests with the Secretary-General.
183	4 The Director shall provide technical support, as necessary, to the Telecommunication Development Sector within the framework of the Constitution and this Convention.

SECTION 6 - Telecommunication Standardization Sector

PP-98 ARTICLE 13 - World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly

184　　 PP-98	1 In accordance with No. 104 of the Constitution, a world telecommunication standardization assembly shall be convened to consider specific matters related to telecommunication standardization.
184A　　 PP-02	1　bis) The world telecommunication standardization assembly is authorized to adopt the working methods and procedures for the management of the Sector’s activities in accordance with No.　145A of the Constitution.
185　　 PP-98	2 The questions to be studied by a world telecommunication standardization assembly, on which recommendations shall be issued, shall be those adopted pursuant to its own procedures or referred to it by the Plenipotentiary Conference, any other conference, or the Council.
186　　 PP-98	3 In accordance with No. 104 of the Constitution, the assembly shall:
187　　 PP-98 PP-02	a) consider the reports of study groups prepared in accordance with No.　194 of this Convention and approve, modify or reject draft recommendations contained in those reports, and consider the reports of the telecommunication standardization advisory group in accordance with Nos.　197H and 197I of this Convention;
188	b) bearing in mind the need to keep the demands on the resources of the Union to a minimum, approve the programme of work arising from the review of existing questions and new questions and determine the priority, urgency, estimated financial implications and time-scale for the completion of their study;
189	c) decide, in the light of the approved programme of work derived from No. 188 above, on the need to maintain, terminate or establish study groups and allocate to each of them the questions to be studied;
190　　 PP-98	d) group, as far as practicable, questions of interest to the developing countries to facilitate their participation in these studies;
191	e) consider and approve the report of the Director on the activities of the Sector since the last conference.
191A PP-02	f) decide on the need to maintain, terminate or establish other groups and appoint their chairmen and vice-chairmen;
191B PP-02	g) establish the terms of reference for the groups referred to in No.　191A above; such groups shall not adopt questions or recommendations.
191C　　 PP-98	4 A world telecommunication standardization assembly may assign specific matters within its competence to the telecommunication standardization advisory group indicating the action required on those matters.
191D　　 PP-98 PP-02	5 A world telecommunication standardization assembly shall be presided over by a chairman designated by the government of the country in which the meeting is held or, in the case of a meeting held at the seat of the Union, by a chairman elected by the assembly itself. The chairman shall be assisted by vice-chairmen elected by the assembly.

ARTICLE 14 - Telecommunication Standardization Study Groups

192　　 PP-98	1 1) Telecommunication standardization study groups shall study questions adopted in accordance with a procedure established by the world telecommunication standardization assembly and prepare draft recommendations to be adopted in accordance with the procedure set forth in Nos. 246A to 247 of this Convention.
193	2) The study groups shall, subject to No. 195 below, study technical, operating and tariff questions and prepare recommendations on them with a view to standardizing telecommunications on a worldwide basis, including recommendations on interconnection of radio systems in public telecommunication networks and on the performance required for these interconnections. Technical or operating questions specifically related to radiocommunication as enumerated in Nos. 151 to 154 of this Convention shall be within the purview of the Radiocommunication Sector.
194　　 PP-98	3) Each study group shall prepare for the world telecommunication standardization assembly a report indicating the progress of work, the recommendations adopted in accordance with the consultation procedure contained in No.　192 above, and any draft new or revised recommendations for consideration by the assembly.
195	2 Taking into account No. 105 of the Constitution, the tasks enumerated in No. 193 above and those enumerated in Nos. 151 to 154 of this Convention in relation to the Radiocommunication Sector shall be kept under continuing review by the Telecommunication Standardization Sector and the Radiocommunication Sector with a view to reaching common agreement on changes in the distribution of matters under study. The two Sectors shall cooperate closely and adopt procedures to conduct such a review and reach agreements in a timely and effective manner. If agreement is not reached, the matter may be submitted through the Council to the Plenipotentiary Conference for decision.
196	3 In the performance of their studies, the telecommunication standardization study groups shall pay due attention to the study of questions and to the formulation of recommendations directly connected with the establishment, development and improvement of telecommunications in developing countries at both the regional and international levels. They shall conduct their work giving due consideration to the work of national, regional and other international standardization organizations, and cooperate with them, keeping in mind the need for the Union to maintain its pre-eminent position in the field of worldwide standardization for telecommunications.
197　　 PP-98	4 For the purpose of facilitating the review of activities in the Telecommunication Standardization Sector, measures should be taken to foster cooperation and coordination with other organizations concerned with telecommunication standardization and with the Radiocommunication Sector and the Telecommunication Development Sector. A world telecommunication standardization assembly shall determine the specific duties, conditions of participation and rules of procedure for these measures.

ARTICLE 14A - PP-98 Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group

197A　　 PP-98 PP-02	1 The telecommunication standardization advisory group shall be open to representatives of administrations of Member States and representatives of Sector Members and to chairmen of the study groups and other groups.
197B　　 PP-98	2 The telecommunication standardization advisory group shall:
197C　　 PP-98	1) review priorities, programmes, operations, financial matters and strategies for activities in the Telecommunication Standardization Sector;
197CA　　 PP-02	1　bis) review the implementation of the operational plan of the preceding period in order to identify areas in which the Bureau has not achieved or was not able to achieve the objectives laid down in that plan, and advise the Director on the necessary corrective measures;
197D　　 PP-98	2) review progress in the implementation of the programme of work established under No.　188 of this Convention;
197E　　 PP-98	3) provide guidelines for the work of study groups;
197F　　 PP-98	4) recommend measures, inter alia, to foster cooperation and coordination with other relevant bodies, with the Radiocommunication Sector, the Telecommunication Development Sector and the General Secretariat;
197G　　 PP-98	5) adopt its own working procedures compatible with those adopted by the world telecommunication standardization assembly;
197H　　 PP-98	6) prepare a report for the Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau indicating action in respect of the above items.
197I　　 PP-98	7) prepare a report for the world telecommunication standardization assembly on the matters assigned to it in accordance with No.　191A and transmit it to the Director for submission to the assembly.

ARTICLE 15 - Telecommunication Standardization Bureau

198	1 The Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau shall organize and coordinate the work of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector.
199	2 The Director shall, in particular:
200　　 PP-98 PP-02	a) update annually the work programme approved by the world telecommunication standardization assembly, in consultation with the chairmen of the telecommunication standardization study groups and other groups;
201　　 PP-98 PP-02	b) participate, as of right, but in an advisory capacity, in the deliberations of world telecommunication standardization assemblies and of the telecommunication standardization study groups and other groups. The Director shall make all necessary preparations for assemblies and meetings of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector in consultation with the General Secretariat in accordance with No.　94 of this Convention and, as appropriate, with the other Sectors of the Union, and with due regard for the directives of the Council concerning these preparations;
202　　 PP-98	c) process information received from administrations in application of the relevant provisions of the International Telecommunication Regulations or decisions of the world telecommunication standardization assembly and prepare it, where appropriate, in a suitable form for publication;
203　　 PP-98 PP-06	d) exchange with Member States and Sector Members data in machine-readable and other forms, prepare and, as necessary, keep up to date any documents and databases of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector, and arrange with the Secretary-General, as appropriate, for their publication in the languages of the Union in accordance with No.　172 of the Constitution;
204　　 PP-98	e) submit to the world telecommunication standardization assembly a report on the activities of the Sector since the last assembly; the Director shall also submit to the Council and to the Member States and Sector Members such a report covering the two-year period since the last assembly, unless a second assembly is convened;
205	f) prepare a cost-based budget estimate for the requirements of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector and transmit it to the Secretary-General for consideration by the Coordination Committee and inclusion in the Union’s budget.
205A　　 PP-98 PP-02	g) prepare annually a rolling four-year operational plan that covers the subsequent year and the following three-year period, including financial implications of activities to be undertaken by the Bureau in support of the Sector as a whole; this four-year operational plan shall be reviewed by the telecommunication standardization advisory group in accordance with Article　14A of this Convention, and shall be reviewed and approved annually by the Council;
205B　　 PP-98	h) provide the necessary support for the telecommunication standardization advisory group, and report each year to Member States and Sector Members and to the Council on the results of its work;
205C　　 PP-98	i) provide assistance to developing countries in the preparatory work for world standardization assemblies, particularly with regard to matters of a priority nature for those countries.
206	3 The Director shall choose the technical and administrative personnel of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau within the framework of the budget as approved by the Council. The appointment of the technical and administrative personnel is made by the Secretary-General in agreement with the Director. The final decision on appointment or dismissal rests with the Secretary-General.
207	4 The Director shall provide technical support, as necessary, to the Telecommunication Development Sector within the framework of the Constitution and this Convention.

SECTION 7 - Telecommunication Development Sector

ARTICLE 16 - Telecommunication Development Conferences

207A PP-02	1 The world telecommunication development conference is authorized to adopt the working methods and procedures for the management of the Sector’s activities in accordance with No.　145A of the Constitution.
208	1　bis) In accordance with No. 118 of the Constitution, the duties of the telecommunication development conferences shall be as follows:
209 PP-06	a) world telecommunication development conferences shall establish work programmes and guidelines for defining telecommunication development questions and priorities and shall provide direction and guidance for the work programme of the Telecommunication Development Sector. They shall decide, in the light of the above-mentioned programmes of work, on the need to maintain, terminate or establish study groups and allocate to each of them the questions to be studied;
209A PP-02	a　bis) decide on the need to maintain, terminate or establish other groups and appoint their chairmen and vice-chairmen;
209B PP-02	a　ter) establish the terms of reference for the groups referred to in No.　209A above; such groups shall not adopt questions or recommendations.
210 PP-02	b) regional telecommunication development conferences shall consider questions and priorities relating to telecommunication development, taking into account the needs and characteristics of the region concerned, and may also submit recommendations to world telecommunication development conferences;
211	c) the telecommunication development conferences should fix the objectives and strategies for the balanced worldwide and regional development of telecommunications, giving particular consideration to the expansion and modernization of the networks and services of the developing countries as well as the mobilization of the resources required for this purpose. They shall serve as a forum for the study of policy, organizational, operational, regulatory, technical and financial questions and related aspects, including the identification and implementation of new sources of funding;
212	d) world and regional telecommunication development conferences, within their respective sphere of competence, shall consider reports submitted to them and evaluate the activities of the Sector; they may also consider telecommunication development aspects related to the activities of the other Sectors of the Union.
213　　 PP-98	2 The draft agenda of telecommunication development conferences shall be prepared by the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau and be submitted by the Secretary-General to the Council for approval with the concurrence of a majority of the Member States in the case of a world conference, or of a majority of the Member States belonging to the region concerned in the case of a regional conference, subject to the provisions of No.　47 of this Convention.
213A　　 PP-98 PP-02	3 A telecommunication development conference may assign specific matters within its competence to the telecommunication development advisory group, indicating the recommended action on those matters.

ARTICLE 17 - Telecommunication Development Study Groups

214	1 Telecommunication development study groups shall deal with specific telecommunication questions of general interest to developing countries, including the matters enumerated in No. 211 above. Such study groups shall be limited in number and created for a limited period of time, subject to the availability of resources, shall have specific terms of reference on questions and matters of priority to developing countries and shall be task-oriented.
215	2 Taking into account No. 119 of the Constitution, the Radiocommunication, Telecommunication Standardization and Telecommunication Development Sectors shall keep the matters under study under continuing review with a view to reaching agreement on the distribution of work, avoiding duplication of effort and improving coordination. The Sectors shall adopt procedures to conduct such reviews and reach such agreement in a timely and effective manner.
215A　　 PP-98	3 Each telecommunication development study group shall prepare for the world telecommunication development conference a report indicating the progress of work and any draft new or revised recommendations for consideration by the conference.
215B　　 PP-98	4 Telecommunication development study groups shall study questions and prepare draft recommendations to be adopted in accordance with the procedures set out in Nos. 246A to 247 of this Convention.

ARTICLE 17A - PP-98 Telecommunication Development Advisory Group

215C　　 PP-98 PP-02 PP-06	1 The telecommunication development advisory group shall be open to representatives of administrations of Member States and representatives of Sector Members and to chairmen and vice-chairmen of study groups and other groups, and will act through the Director.
215D　　 PP-98	2 The telecommunication development advisory group shall:
215E　　 PP-98	1) review priorities, programmes, operations, financial matters and strategies for activities in the Telecommunication Development Sector;
215EA　　 PP-02	1　bis) review the implementation of the operational plan of the preceding period in order to identify areas in which the Bureau has not achieved or was not able to achieve the objectives laid down in that plan, and advise the Director on the necessary corrective measures.
215F　　 PP-98	2) review progress in the implementation of the programme of work established under No.　209 of this Convention;
215G　　 PP-98	3) provide guidelines for the work of study groups;
215H　　 PP-98	4) recommend measures, inter alia, to foster cooperation and coordination with the Radiocommunication Sector, the Telecommunication Standardization Sector and the General Secretariat, as well as with other relevant development and financial institutions.
215I　　 PP-98	5) adopt its own working procedures compatible with those adopted by the world telecommunication development conference.
215J　　 PP-98	6) prepare a report for the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau indicating action in respect of the above items.
215JA　　 PP-02	6　bis) prepare a report for the world telecommunication development conference on the matters assigned to it in accordance with No.　213A of this Convention and transmit it to the Director for submission to the conference.
215K　　 PP-98	3 Representatives of bilateral cooperation and development aid agencies and multilateral development institutions may be invited by the Director to participate in the meetings of the advisory group.

ARTICLE 18 - PP-98 Telecommunication Development Bureau

216	1 The Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau shall organize and coordinate the work of the Telecommunication Development Sector.
217	2 The Director shall, in particular:
218 PP-02	a) participate as of right, but in an advisory capacity, in the deliberations of the telecommunication development conferences and of the telecommunication development study groups and other groups. The Director shall make all necessary preparations for conferences and meetings of the Telecommunication Development Sector in consultation with the General Secretariat in accordance with No.　94 of this Convention and, as appropriate, with the other Sectors of the Union, and with due regard for the directives of the Council in carrying out these preparations;
219	b) process information received from administrations in application of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Plenipotentiary Conference and telecommunication development conferences and prepare it, where appropriate, in a suitable form for publication;
220 PP-06	c) exchange with members data in machine-readable and other forms, prepare and, as necessary, keep up to date any documents and databases of the Telecommunication Development Sector, and arrange with the Secretary-General, as appropriate, for their publication in the languages of the Union in accordance with No.　172 of the Constitution;
221	d) assemble and prepare for publication, in cooperation with the General Secretariat and the other Sectors of the Union, both technical and administrative information that might be especially useful to developing countries in order to help them to improve their telecommunication networks. Their attention shall also be drawn to the possibilities offered by the international programmes under the auspices of the United Nations;
222　　 PP-98	e) submit to the world telecommunication development conference a report on the activities of the Sector since the last conference; the Director shall also submit to the Council and to the Member States and Sector Members such a report covering the two-year period since the last conference;
223　　 PP-98	f) prepare a cost-based budget estimate for the requirements of the Telecommunication Development Sector and transmit it to the Secretary-General for consideration by the Coordination Committee and inclusion in the Union’s budget;
223A　　 PP-98 PP-02	g) prepare annually a rolling four-year operational plan that covers the subsequent year and the following three-year period, including financial implications of activities to be undertaken by the Bureau in support of the Sector as a whole; this four-year operational plan shall be reviewed by the telecommunication development advisory group in accordance with Article　17A of this Convention, and shall be reviewed and approved annually by the Council;
223B　　 PP-98	h) provide the necessary support for the telecommunication development advisory group, and report each year to the Member States and Sector Members and to the Council on the results of its work.
224　　 PP-98	3 The Director shall work collegially with the other elected officials in order to ensure that the Union’s catalytic role in stimulating telecommunication development is strengthened and shall make the necessary arrangements with the Director of the Bureau concerned for initiating suitable action, including the convening of information meetings on the activities of the Sector concerned.
225　　 PP-98	4 At the request of the Member States concerned, the Director, with the assistance of the Directors of the other Bureaux and, where appropriate, the Secretary-General, shall study and offer advice concerning their national telecommunication problems; where a comparison of technical alternatives is involved, economic factors may be taken into consideration.
226	5 The Director shall choose the technical and administrative personnel of the Telecommunication Development Bureau within the framework of the budget as approved by the Council. The appointment of the personnel is made by the Secretary-General in agreement with the Director. The final decision for appointment or dismissal rests with the Secretary-General.
227　　 PP-98	(SUP)

SECTION 8 - Provisions Common to the Three Sectors

ARTICLE 19 - Participation of Entities and Organizations Other than Administrations in the Union’s Activities

228	1 The Secretary-General and the Directors of the Bureaux shall encourage the enhanced participation in the activities of the Union of the following entities and organizations:
229　　 PP-98	a) recognized operating agencies, scientific or industrial organizations and financial or development institutions which are approved by the Member State concerned;
230　　 PP-98	b) other entities dealing with telecommunication matters which are approved by the Member State concerned;
231	c) regional and other international telecommunication, standardization, financial or development organizations.
232	2 The Directors of the Bureaux shall maintain close working relations with those entities and organizations which are authorized to participate in the activities of one or more of the Sectors of the Union.
233　　 PP-98	3 Any request from an entity listed in No. 229 above to participate in the work of a Sector, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution and this Convention, approved by the Member State concerned shall be forwarded by the latter to the Secretary-General.
234　　 PP-98	4 Any request from an entity referred to in No. 230 above submitted by the Member State concerned shall be handled in conformity with a procedure established by the Council. Such a request shall be reviewed by the Council with respect to its conformity with the above procedure.
234A　　 PP-98	4　bis) Alternatively, a request from an entity listed in No.　229 or 230 above to become a Sector Member may be sent direct to the Secretary-General. Those Member States authorizing such entities to send a request directly to the Secretary-General shall inform the latter accordingly. Entities whose Member State has not provided such notice to the Secretary-General shall not have the option of direct application. The Secretary-General shall regularly update and publish a list of those Member States that have authorized entities under their jurisdiction or sovereignty to apply directly.
234B　　 PP-98	4　ter) Upon receipt, directly from an entity, of a request under No.　234A above, the Secretary-General shall, on the basis of criteria defined by the Council, ensure that the function and purposes of the candidate are in conformity with the purposes of the Union. The Secretary-General shall then, without delay, inform the applicant’s Member State inviting approval of the application. If the Secretary-General receives no objection from the Member State within four months, a reminder telegram shall be sent. If the Secretary-General receives no objection within four months after the date of dispatch of the reminder telegram, the application shall be regarded as approved. If an objection is received from the Member State by the Secretary-General, the applicant shall be invited by the Secretary-General to contact the Member State concerned.
234C　　 PP-98	4　quater)　When authorizing direct application, a Member State may notify the Secretary-General that it assigns authority to the Secretary-General to approve any application by an entity under its jurisdiction or sovereignty.
235	5 Any request from any entity or organization listed in No. 231 above (other than those referred to in Nos. 269B and 269C of this Convention) to participate in the work of a Sector shall be sent to the Secretary-General and acted upon in accordance with procedures established by the Council.
236	6 Any request from an organization referred to in Nos. 269B to 269D of this Convention to participate in the work of a Sector shall be sent to the Secretary-General, and the organization concerned shall be included in the lists referred to in No. 237 below.
237　　 PP-98	7 The Secretary-General shall compile and maintain lists of all entities and organizations referred to in Nos. 229 to 231 and Nos. 269B to 269D of this Convention that are authorized to participate in the work of each Sector and shall, at appropriate intervals, publish and distribute these lists to all Member States and Sector Members concerned and to the Director of the Bureau concerned. That Director shall advise such entities and organizations of the action taken on their requests, and shall inform the relevant Member States.
238　　 PP-98	8 The conditions of participation in the Sectors by entities and organizations contained in the lists referred to in No.　237 above are specified in this Article, in Article 33 and in other relevant provisions of this Convention. The provisions of Nos. 25 to 28 of the Constitution do not apply to them.
239　　 PP-94　　 PP-98	9 A Sector Member may act on behalf of the Member State which has approved it, provided that the Member State informs the Director of the Bureau concerned that it is authorized to do so.
240　　 PP-98 PP-06	10 Any Sector Member has the right to denounce such participation by notifying the Secretary-General. Such participation may also be denounced, where appropriate, by the Member State concerned or, in case of the Sector Member approved pursuant to No.　234C above, in accordance with criteria and procedures determined by the Council. Such denunciation shall take effect at the end of six months from the date when notification is received by the Secretary-General.
241	11 The Secretary-General shall delete from the list of entities and organizations any entity or organization that is no longer authorized to participate in the work of a Sector, in accordance with criteria and procedures determined by the Council.
241A　　 PP-98	12 The assembly or conference of a Sector may decide to admit entities or organizations to participate as Associates in the work of a given study group or subgroups thereof following the principles set out below:
241B　　 PP-98	1) An entity or organization referred to in Nos. 229 to 231 above may apply to participate in the work of a given study group as an Associate.
241C　　 PP-98	2) In cases where a Sector has decided to admit Associates, the Secretary-General shall apply to the applicants the relevant provisions of this Article, taking account of the size of the entity or organization and any other relevant criteria.
241D　　 PP-98	3) Associates admitted to participate in a given study group are not entered in the list referred to in No.　237 above.
241E　　 PP-98	4) The conditions governing participation in the work of a study group are specified in Nos.　248B and 483A of this Convention.

ARTICLE 20 - Conduct of Business of Study Groups

242　　 PP-98	1 The radiocommunication assembly, the world telecommunication standardization assembly and the world telecommunication development conference shall appoint the chairman and one vice-chairman or more for each study group. In appointing chairmen and vice-chairmen, particular consideration shall be given to the requirements of competence and equitable geographical distribution, and to the need to promote more efficient participation by the developing countries.
243　　 PP-98	2 If the workload of any study group requires, the assembly or conference shall appoint such additional vice-chairmen as it deems necessary.
244	3 If, in the interval between two assemblies or conferences of the Sector concerned, a study group Chairman is unable to carry out his duties and only one Vice-Chairman has been appointed, then that Vice-Chairman shall take the Chairman’s place. In the case of a study group for which more than one Vice-Chairman has been appointed, the study group at its next meeting shall elect a new Chairman from among those Vice-Chairmen and, if necessary, a new Vice-Chairman from among the members of the study group. It shall likewise elect a new Vice-Chairman if one of the Vice-Chairmen is unable to carry out his duties during that period.
245	4 Study groups shall conduct their work as far as possible by correspondence, using modern means of communication.
246	5 The Director of the Bureau of each Sector, on the basis of the decisions of the competent conference or assembly, after consultation with the Secretary-General and coordination as required by the Constitution and Convention, shall draw up the general plan of study group meetings.
246A　　 PP-98	5　bis) 1) Member States and Sector Members shall adopt questions to be studied in accordance with procedures established by the relevant conference or assembly, as appropriate, including the indication whether or not a resulting recommendation shall be the subject of a formal consultation of Member States.
246B　　 PP-98	2) Recommendations resulting from the study of the above questions are adopted by a study group in accordance with procedures established by the relevant conference or assembly, as appropriate. Those recommendations which do not require formal consultation of Member States for their approval shall be considered as approved.
246C　　 PP-98	3) A recommendation requiring formal consultation of Member States shall be either treated in accordance with No.　247 below or transmitted to the relevant conference or assembly, as appropriate.
246D　　 PP-98	4) Nos. 246A and 246B above shall not be used for questions and recommendations having policy or regulatory implications such as:
246E　　 PP-98	a) questions and recommendations approved by the Radiocommunication Sector relevant to the work of radiocommunication conferences, and other categories of questions and recommendations that may be decided by the radiocommunication assembly;
246F　　 PP-98	b) questions and recommendations approved by the Telecommunication Standardization Sector which relate to tariff and accounting issues, and relevant numbering and addressing plans;
246G　　 PP-98	c) questions and recommendations approved by the Telecommunication Development Sector which relate to regulatory, policy and financial issues;
246H　　 PP-98	d) questions and recommendations where there is any doubt about their scope.
247　　 PP-98	6 Study groups may initiate action for obtaining approval from Member States for recommendations completed between two assemblies or conferences. The procedures to be applied for obtaining such approval shall be those approved by the competent assembly or conference, as appropriate.
247A　　 PP-98	6　bis) Recommendations approved in application of Nos.　246B or 247 above shall have the same status as ones approved by the conference or assembly itself.
248	7 Where necessary, joint working parties may be established for the study of questions requiring the participation of experts from several study groups.
248A　　 PP-98	7　bis) Following a procedure developed by the Sector concerned, the Director of a Bureau may, in consultation with the chairman of the study group concerned, invite an organization which does not participate in the Sector to send representatives to take part in the study of a specific matter in the study group concerned or its subordinate groups.
248B　　 PP-98	7　ter) An Associate, as referred to in No.　241A of this Convention, will be permitted to participate in the work of the selected study group without taking part in any decision-making or liaison activity of that study group.
249	8 The Director of the relevant Bureau shall send the final reports of the study groups to the administrations, organizations and entities participating in the Sector. Such reports shall include a list of the recommendations approved in conformity with No. 247 above. These reports shall be sent as soon as possible and, in any event, in time for them to be received at least one month before the date of the next session of the conference concerned.

ARTICLE 21 - Recommendations from One Conference to Another

250	1 Any conference may submit to another conference of the Union recommendations within its field of competence.
251	2 Such recommendations shall be sent to the Secretary-General in good time for assembly, coordination and communication, as laid down in No. 44 of the General Rules of conferences, assemblies and meetings of the Union.

ARTICLE 22 - Relations Between Sectors and With International Organizations

252	1 The Directors of the Bureaux may agree, after appropriate consultation and coordination as required by the Constitution, the Convention and the decisions of the competent conferences or assemblies, to organize joint meetings of study groups of two or three Sectors, in order to study and prepare draft recommendations on questions of common interest. Such draft recommendations shall be submitted to the competent conferences or assemblies of the Sectors concerned.
253	2 Conferences or meetings of a Sector may be attended in an advisory capacity by the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General, the Directors of the Bureaux of the other Sectors, or their representatives, and members of the Radio Regulations Board. If necessary, they may invite, in an advisory capacity, representatives of the General Secretariat or of any other Sector which has not considered it necessary to be represented.
254	3 When a Sector is invited to participate in a meeting of an international organization, its Director is authorized to make arrangements for its representation in an advisory capacity, taking into account the provisions of No. 107 of this Convention.