The Information Society and the Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) are changing radically the environment of communications. One of the main commitments of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is to realize a common vision of the information society for ourselves and future generations and to harness the potential of ICTs to promote the development goals of the Millennium Declaration.

The core competencies of ITU in the field of ICTs—assistance in bridging the digital divide, international and regional cooperation, radio spectrum management, standards development and the dissemination of information—are of crucial importance for building the Information Society.

ITU’s future actions should help accomplish the goals and objectives articulated in the Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action, as adopted by the Geneva phase of WSIS, and the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. These outcomes have important implications for ITU, including its role in the implementation and follow-up process.

The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society recognizes the specific role and experience of ITU, as key elements in the implementation of the WSIS outcomes. Specifically, ITU is mentioned (Para. 78) as having proven expertise in the area of Internet Governance, and as playing a role of facilitation/moderation (along with other UN agencies) in implementation at both the intergovernmental level (Para. 103) and multistakeholder level (Para. 109). Specifically, ITU is requested to coordinate multistakeholder implementation for action lines C2 (Infrastructure) and C5 (Cybersecurity) and, along with other UN agencies, organize meetings of other facilitators/moderators for all action lines.

Considering this change in the environment, Member States and Sector Members, as well as those stakeholders that have an interest in ITU activities, are requested to provide comments and inputs on how ITU might further adapt itself to the post-WSIS environment, inter alia, what aspects of the ITU’s basic instruments need to change, necessary amendment of the Strategic Plan, change of the name “ITU”.

(for Member States, Sector Members and Associates via a TIES id)

ITU Council Resolution 1244 - ITU role in the Tunis phase of WSIS and in implementation and follow-up

At its 2005 Session the ITU Council adopted Resolution 1244, which instructed the Council Working Group on the WSIS to prepare proposals on how ITU should further adapt itself to the Information Society and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) environment.

A one-day meeting to consider your inputs and contributions on this topic will be held on 1 February 2006 at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva. The Invitation letter to ITU Member States, Sector Members and Associates, the Draft Agenda and Online Registration Form follow:

• Invitation

• Draft Agenda

• Online Registration Form

• Contribution from the Syrian Arab Republic: "Proposal to change the name of the ITU"

• Contribution from the Syrian Arab Republic: "Follow-up to Council 2005 decisions on Internet issues"

• Contribution from Germany: "ITU and WSIS Follow-Up - Food for Thought"

• Contribution from Canada: 'The role of ITU in implementation and follow-up of the WSIS'

• Siemens Comments on post-WSIS tasks in ITU: 'How the ITU might adapt itself in the post-WSIS environment'

• Contribution from Vodafone on ITU Reform

• Contribution from the Russian Federation

• Note by the Chairman

• The African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC) contribution to the ITU reform process  

• Chairman, Council Working Group on WSIS (WG-WSIS) Meeting Summary