The Plenipotentiary Conference was tasked to elect the 46 Member States called to sit on the ITU Council to represent the membership in the interval between Plenipotentiary Conferences. The ITU Council acts on behalf of the Plenipotentiary Conference and meets annually to consider broad telecommunication policy issues to ensure that the Union's policies and strategies respond fully to the constantly changing telecommunication environment. The Council is also responsible for ensuring the efficient coordination of the work of the Union and the approval of its budgets.

Each of the five administrative regions were entitled to a number of seats as follows: Region A – Americas (8 seats), Region B – Western Europe (8 seats), Region C – Eastern Europe (5 seats), Region D – Africa (13 seats), Region E – Asia and Australasia (12 seats).