Terms of Reference
Regional group for countries which in collaboration with relevant regional standardization entities (regional organizations, regional standardization bodies, ITU regional office and so forth) will facilitate contributions to the ITU-T SG3 meeting on particular subjects which are points of interest of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Transcaucasian countries, which are member states of RCC/CIS, relating to studying international telecommunication/ICT policy and economic issues and tariff and accounting matters (including costing principles and methodologies), with a view to informing the development of enabling regulatory models and frameworks. To this end, Regional Group shall in particular foster collaboration among its participants with a view to the establishment of rates at levels as low as possible consistent with an efficient service and taking into account the necessity of maintaining independent financial administration of telecommunications on a sound basis. Additionally, Regional group will study the economic and regulatory impact of the Internet, convergence (services or infrastructure) and new services, such as over-the-top (OTT), on international telecommunication services and networks.
A. To encourage the active participation of Administrations, regulators and operators of the region in the activities and efforts of ITU-T Study Group 3, as well as in the implementation of ITU-T Recommendations;
B. To facilitate meeting the needs for broader inclusion and more active participation of developing countries in ITU-T Study Group 3 activities given limited abilities to attend SG3 meetings in Geneva;
C. To foster the discussion across the EECAT region and to seek consensus on the telecommunications/ICTs financial and economic aspects;
D. To act as a forum (in face to face meetings and through online communications) for information-sharing related to SG3 activities among local and regional experts, delegates of Member States;
E. To draft substantive contributions of the EECAT countries both on traditional and emerging areas of interest for ITU-T Study Group 3;
F. To identify the regional priorities as they relate to the mandate of ITU-T Study Group 3, paying special attention to subjects including but limited to: OTT, Big Data, digital financial services, international and cross-border mobile roaming; international Internet connectivity; national broadband plans; local and regional interconnection infrastructure; NGN, 4G and IMT-2020 charging and accounting; economic impact of the transition from Ipv4 to Ipv6; fixed and leased line tariff issues; pricing and settlement issues for international telecom services, use of commercial agreements for the provision of international telecom services; alternative calling procedures; dispute resolution related to charging and invoicing; misappropriation and misuse of facilities and services;
G. To work towards the development of new or revised Recommendations in traditional and emerging areas of interest for ITU-T Study Group 3 that reflect the interests of the EECAT region;
H. To strengthen standard-making capabilities of EECAT countries in accordance with Resolution 44 on "Bridging the Standardization Gap" (Rev. Hammamet, 2016), Resolution 29 «Alternative calling procedures on international telecommunication networks» (Rev. Hammamet, 2016), Resolution 59 «Enhancing participation of telecommunication operators from developing countries (Rev. Dubai, 2012), Resolution 61 «Countering and combating misappropriation and misuse of international telecommunication numbering resources» (Rev. Dubai, 2012), Resolution 62 «Dispute settlement» (Rev. Dubai, 2012), Resolution 64 «Internet protocol address allocation and facilitating the transition to and deployment of IPv6» (Rev. Hammamet, 2016), Resolution 65 «Calling party number delivery, calling line identification and origin identification information» (Rev. Hammamet, 2016), Resolution 74 «Admission of Sector Members from developing countries in the work of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector» (Rev.Dubai, 2012), Resolution 84 «Studies concerning the protection of users of telecommunication/information and communication technology services» (Hammamet, 2016), Resolution 88 «International mobile roaming» (Hammamet, 2016) and Resolution 89 «Promoting the use of information and communication technologies to bridge the financial inclusion gap» (Hammamet, 2016);
I. To improve liaison and collaboration of the EECAT region with other Regional Groups under ITU-T SG3 on relevant standardization matters;
J. To foster discussion and studies across the region of international telecommunication/ICT policy and economic issues and tariff and accounting matters (including costing principles and methodologies), with a view to informing the development of enabling regulatory models and frameworks;
K. To encourage studies into the economic and regulatory impact of the Internet, convergence (services or infrastructure) and new services, such as OTT, on international telecommunication services and networks.
Referece: See clause 5.2 of ITU-T SG3 Report R1, 2017.
