The second ITU World Telecommunication Policy Forum (WTPF) invited the Director of TSB,
in consultation with the Chairman of Study Group 3, to establish a Focus Group as
described in Resolution 23 of WTSC-96 in order to accelerate the work of Study Group 3 on
accounting rate reform. The objective of the Focus Group was to propose "transitional
arrangements towards cost-orientation beyond 1998, including ranges of indicative target
rates". The final report was submitted to the Director of the TSB on 6 November
1998 for consideration by Study Group 3 at its meetings on 7-15 December 1998 and 2-11
June 1999.
At its meeting in June 1999, Study Group 3, after in-depth discussions, endorsed
the draft guidelines for bilateral negotiations of transitional
arrangements towards cost-orientation (WinWord,
PDF), as a new annex to Recommendation D.140 to go through
the approval procedure in accordance with Resolution 1 of WTSC-96. While Study Group
3 did not agree unanimously on the text, a large majority of administrations supported the
draft and recognized the value of such an annex. ITU-T approval procedures will be applied
to the transitional arrangements (Annex E) at the December 1999 meeting.
In its earlier December 1998 meeting Study Group 3 completed its work on an expanded
menu of remuneration options, including termination charges, to be incorporated into
ITU-T Recommendation D.150.
- Final Contribution of the Focus Group to
ITU Study Group 3 [WinWord, PDF] As submitted on 6th
November 1998
- Presentation of the Final Report of the Focus Group to ITU-T Study Group 3, Ambassador
Anthony Hill, Chair, SG3 Focus Group, 3rd Plenary Meeting, 7th December 1998, Geneva
[PowerPoint, WinZip], [PDF,
WinZip]
For more on the Focus Group, see the ITU-T
website.
As part of the work of the Focus Group, a number of Methodological
Notes have been prepared by the Secretariat on different topics. These show the
evolution of the Group's work:
- Developing ranges of indicative target rates [PDF,
WinWord] 12 May
- Country groupings and best practice rates [PDF,
WinWord] 1 July
- Cost methodologies and cost proxies [PDF, WinWord] 7 August
- Transit rates [PDF, WinWord] 12 August
- Asymmetric arrangements [PDF, WinWord] 29 September
- Choice of teledensity bands [PDF, WinWord] 30 September
- Universal Service Obligations [PDF, WinWord] 9 October
- Transition paths to cost-orientation [PDF,
WinWord]
Revised 9 November
In addition, an Information Note has been prepared by
the Telecommunications Development Bureau (BDT) outlining its contribution to the
work of the Focus Group:
- BDT Contribution to the Focus Group [PDF,
Winword] 28 October
During the course of the work, three Working Documents
were issued by the Chairman of the Group, Ambassador Anthony Hill (Jamaica), and the
management team. They show the evolution of the work:
- 1st Working Document [PDF, WinWord] 12 June 1998
- 2nd Working Document [PDF, WinWord] 25 August 1998
- 3rd Working Document [PDF, WinWord] 16 October 1998
|