A decision which includes an information document about the role of ITU in the Information Society and a second which contains guidelines for ITU’s input to the declaration of principles and Action Plan of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) made it through first reading but not before significant discussion about what Annex 1 to the document, which focuses on contents and themes, should be called. The resolution proposed to forward Annex 1 to the WSIS Working Group of Council as guideline for further elaboration of ITU’s substantive input. This Annex outlines three broad objectives to ensure the benefits of information and communication technologies are widely shared. These are:

1. Providing access to ICTs for all
2. ICTs as a tool for economic and social development – and meeting the Millennium Development Goals
3. Confidence and security in the use of ICTs

The Chairman of the Working Group of the Plenary requested guidance from Plenary itself on the resolution, which included a footnote stating that the annexes were to ‘form an integral part of this decision but not considered as part of, the Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary’. The problem had arisen because some delegations felt that Final Acts should contain only binding texts, while others were concerned that the work of the group would not serve its purpose if it was not formally available to all the membership. The US suggested that the footnote be retained but that it be noted that as the annexes were drafts which would have further work done on them by the Working Group of Council on WSIS, that they should be called as such. India objected to the use of the word ‘draft’. South Africa suggested that they were inputs and proposed that they be called ‘Guidelines for ITU Input’. This was adopted. However, the document wasn’t in the clear yet.

Square brackets had been retained on one section under "Confidence and security in the use of ICTs". It outlined potential contributions that would bear in mind ITU core competencies, and efforts within the UN system aimed at:

The United States called for retention of the brackets in the third bullet point and implied that ITU lacks the competence to undertake a convention on ICT network security. Amongst those supporting the US were Canada, New Zealand, Denmark and Israel. The French supported removal of the brackets, noting that #3 implies that a convention is a possibility. They were supported by Russia and China. With no compromise in sight, the Chairman called for a vote.

94 member states voted to remove the brackets, 17 for retaining them with 8 abstentions. The brackets were removed and the resolution will go to second reading.

The Conference approved Resolution 102 on the management of Internet domain names and addresses in second reading today. Resolution 102 recommends that ITU takes a significant role in the domain name debate and stresses the need for the management of Internet addresses and names to reflect the geographical and functional characteristics of the Internet. Given ITU’s role in the development of IP standards and protocols for IP based networks, the Resolution calls for greater partnerships with Internet standardization organizations (such as IETF), governments, private sector and promotes greater outreach to developing countries.

The International Telecommunication Regulations, last amended 14 years ago, took one step closer to being dusted off and reviewed. However, the Plenary first needed to deal with square brackets around a resolution from Committee 5, which had been unable to reach consensus on the need and timing for a World Conference on International Telecommunications. The options in brackets differed on whether a conference, to be held in 2007 or 2008, should be conditional upon a decision to be taken by the 2006 Plenipotentiary Conference and based on recommendations arising from a review process in the interim. The Chairman asked the Secretary-General if he thought it would be possible to convene a conference with as little as one years notice. Mr Utsumi noted that it could be possible if PP-06 carefully outlines the issues; however, he questioned the merit of the argument given the financial situation of the Union.

A number of the interventions that followed referred to a compromise that had been proposed by Australia during Committee 5. It had come close to acceptance before time ran out in the meetings. The Chairman asked the proponents of the various options, including one from South Africa, to meet during the break in order to develop a joint proposal. The result was a resolution that resolves that a World Conference on International Telecommunications be convened in Geneva in 2007 or 2008 on the basis of the recommendations arising from this process of review. However, the Resolution also notes that PP-06 may review any matters. The resolution was adopted.

A proposal from the Arab States to add a new provision to the Constitution on requesting Member States to take the necessary steps to impose the observance of the provisions of this Constitution and the Convention upon the Sector Members. Committee 5, where the proposal had been tabled, had been unable to reach a consensus on the matter.

The Arab States pleaded with the Chairman of the Plenary to give them more time so that they could try to reach agreement with countries that had supported their proposal. Those opposing the proposal argue that they have no provisions in their national legislation that would allow them to enforce the observance, by Sector Members, of the provisions of the Convention and Constitution. Others felt that the matter should be first studied in the groups to be formed on the structure of the Union. A common text is to be prepared and reviewed at a later Plenary.

The Working Group on Reform recognized the need to study all of the provisions relating to observers in order to get a clear understanding of their rights and obligations and to consolidate those provisions (See Highlights N° 10). Committee 5 resolved to create a group of Member States, which would conduct its work by electronic means, to review all the relevant provisions of the basic texts of the Union concerning observers and report for Council 2004. At the same time, the Conference adopted a decision to clarify the status of the United Nations, the specialized agencies of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency as observers to radiocommunication conferences, pending the outcome of the review process to be carried by that group. The decision confirms that these observers may continue to submit information documents relevant to their mandates to Radiocommunication Conferences to be referenced under the relevant agenda items. At the request of the Conference Chairman and in accordance with the rules of procedures, these observers may also provide advice on points relevant to their mandates on the understanding that neither the information documents nor the advice will be treated as conference proposals — a prerogative reserved to Member States. This decision along with proposals submitted at this Conference on the status of observers from the United Nations, specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency will be submitted to the review group. The decision will also be transmitted to the next World Radiocommunication Conference and to the observers concerned.

The resolution also calls on Council to allow Member States that have the status of observers at Council to submit contributions and on a provisional basis to address the meeting when invited to do so by the Chairman. It also wants Council to implement, on a provisional basis, the recommendations of the Reform Group regarding the admission of Sector Members as observers at meetings of the Council, in accordance with conditions established by the Council based criteria to be developed by advisory groups for the selection of those observers.

The Conference approved a resolution from Committee 6 on Sector Member contributions towards defraying the expenses of the Union. This resolution notes that the Working Group on ITU Reform made no specific recommendation in regard to the 1/5 ratio between the amount of the Member State contributory unit and that of the Sector Member contributory unit. It also notes that while the number of Sector Members has increased, under the system of free choice of classes of contribution, the trend in choice of class of contribution by some individual Sector Member is fast-shifting towards the lower end of the scale. The resolution recognizes the importance of retaining and attracting more Sector Members and Associates. It also highlights the need to broaden the financial base of the Union and ensure a fair balance between the contributions made by Member States and Sector Members.

The Council is invited to establish, within existing resources of the Union, a working group open to all Member States and Sector Members to study a system whereby Sector Members and Associates contribute towards defraying the expenses of the Union, on the basis of some of the proposals tabled at this conference (particularly the Arab States Common Proposals, the Argentine Proposal, the African Common Proposal, and a proposal from Israel). Furthermore, the Council is to establish the terms of reference for the working group. The group will be required to make a final report to the Council by its 2005 session at the latest. Member States and Sector Members are encouraged to participate in the study. The Council would in turn draw up a report and recommendations for the attention of the next plenipotentiary conference. The Secretary-General is instructed to invite Member States and Sector Members to submit proposals and participate in the working group. Directors of the Bureaux are instructed to support the study through their respective Bureaux.

Just like in Committee 5, the Plenary was unable to reach a consensus on a proposal from the Islamic Republic of Iran which stated that: "Member States may settle their disputes on questions relating to the interpretation or application of this Constitution, of the Convention or of the Administrative Regulations by negotiation, through diplomatic channels, or according to procedures established by bilateral or multilateral treaties concluded between them for the settlement of international disputes, or by any other method mutually agreed upon. However, for the settlement of disputes on questions relating to the Radio Regulations, the relevant provisions of those Regulations shall apply." According to the Iranian delegation, the current Radio Regulations do not have any provisions for settling disputes, and the proposed change was to fill that vacuum. After consultation with several delegations who were comfortable with the old text "that had served the membership well", in their view, the Iranian delegation withdrew the proposal.