The Plenipotentiary Conference held in Minneapolis in 1998 recognized the strategic need to strengthen the participation of the private sector in the work of the Union, and adopted a number of resolutions in this area. A single category of Sector membership was introduced, according wider rights and obligations to private sector members. In addition, the conference created an "Associate" status for participation in given study groups and subgroups, drawing on the knowledge and expertise of small entities when mutual interests exist.

The Conference adopted a resolution calling for a World Summit on the Information Society and asked the Council to consider and decide on ITU's contribution to the holding of the Summit. In other decisions, the Conference called for greater ITU participation in the evolution of the Internet as a means of global communication and took measures to strengthen the regional presence in the various regions of the Union. It also initiated a process to review the need to revise the International Telecommunication Regulations to take account of the globalization and deregulation of world telecommunications.

Keeping in mind that the basic instruments of the Union have as a purpose to strengthen peace and security in the world by means of international cooperation and better understanding among peoples, the conference adopted Resolution No. 99 providing an enhanced status to Palestine including additional rights to those of observers and the possibility to obtain an international country code, call-signs and frequency coordination. For more information, visit the Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998) web site.