INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION RADIOCOMMUNICATION ADVISORY GROUP GENEVA, 23-25 JANUARY 1995 Document RAG95/15-E 14 December 1994 Original: English REPORT OF THE RAPPORTEUR ON STRATEGIC PLANNING 1 Introduction The principal duties of the Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG) is to review priorities, strategies and work methods for the Radiocommunication Sector taking into account changing requirements, the needs of its participants and the work in other sectors of the Union. In keeping with its responsibilities the RAG must monitor the work of the Conference Preparatory Meetings (CPM), prepare a basis for work at Radiocommunication Assemblies and take into account decisions of the Kyoto Plenipotentiary Conference. This report summarizes key decisions from Kyoto and identifies several issues which should be addressed by the RAG. 2 Strategic Plan for the Union (Resolution COM4/1) The goal of the Strategic Plan is to establish the Union as the international focal point for all matters relating to telecommunications in the global information economy and society of the twenty-first century. Supporting strategies established in Kyoto are: 1)to strengthen the Union's foundations by enhancing the participation of non-administration entities and organizations and increasing the synergy between activities of the Union's Sectors; 2)to broaden the Union's activities by establishing an informational based telecommunications policy forum and by utilizing ITU resources and information systems more efficiently; and 3)to increase the Union's leverage in international matters through strategic alliances with other relevant international/regional organizations and through more effective communications with the public. 2.1 Sector strategies and priorities The Plan put forth by the RAG was for all practical purposes accepted by the Kyoto Plenipotentiary Conference. The importance of "ensuring, through world radiocommunication conferences, that the Radio Regulations contain at treaty level only those provisions necessary to respond to the needs of the international community" was emphasized by modifying and adding the highlighted phrase to the first bullet of the mission statement. Other changes in the mission statement highlighted the importance of regional radiocommunication conferences in meeting the needs of Members of a Region. 2.2 Strategic Plan work programme Specific objectives (A.3), priorities (A.4) and Sector actions (A.5) for 1995-1999 are included in the Plan for the Radiocommunication Sector. In consideration of this action, and the pending allocation of funds to the Sector, it is important for the BR to assure that work is underway or planned to meet the stated goals. Specifically, this should be a subject of a report by the Director to the 1995 Radiocommunication Assembly and the RAG. This report would form the basis for priority considerations and appropriate Plan modifications where necessary. 2.3 GII The ITU-R Plan identifies the promotion and development of a global information infrastructure (GII) as one of its 1995-1999 priorities. The RAG may want to discuss steps the Sector should take to support this activity and how it relates to existing or planned work programmes. This activity should be coordinated with the other Sectors and the Strategic Planning Unit. 2.4 Handbooks The development of Handbooks has become a prominent activity in many Study Groups and is highlighted in the Strategic Plan. The number of Handbooks under development exceeds 40 and serve a variety of customers and purposes. In light of the expressed need for Handbooks, and taking into account the resources expended and financial returns, it seems appropriate to review current requirements, plans and priorities regarding Handbook production and development. The RAG, in cooperation with the Director, Study Group Chairmen and the other Sector Directors, should review this topic with a view to developing priorities and schedules that are compatible with the Strategic Plan and available resources. The RAG should discuss and develop its position regarding Handbook review. 2.5 Study Question review Work of the Study Groups is driven by study programmes and Questions. The number of Questions that are being addressed are voluminous and receive detailed as well as "lip service" attention. There is also a broad range of relevance and importance - high to low. Book 4 of the 1993 Radiocommunication Assembly has an index in excess of 20 pages which lists the active Questions. In light of the resources expended by the Union and Sector Member/members in Study Group activities, a further and more critical review of the existing Questions by the Study Groups appears appropriate. The intent would be to identify key Questions, establishing priorities and identifying activity that can be postponed or dropped. The RAG should discuss the merits of such a study. 2.6 Distribution of meeting days Within the context of the Study Group activity a number of meeting days are allocated to the various Working Parties, Task Groups and full Study Group meetings. The number of meeting days allotted to each activity is driven to an extent by individual requests which are adjusted to match resources. This adjustment is somewhat imprecise and not driven by priorities of the Sector. This is a topic that the RAG should address - distribution of meeting days and resources taking into consideration the relative priorities, timetables of work and the Strategic Plan. 2.7 Radiocommunication Sector budget The Strategic Plan references the budget ceilings established in Kyoto which must be distributed between activities of the Union. The Radiocommunication Sector has a significant workload to address in the 1995-1999 time-frame. It is essential that the Sector is allocated sufficient resources to support its core set of activities. It is recognized that the Union is resource limited but the Sector must establish its resource needs as well as identify what will not be accomplished if those resource needs are not met. The RAG should consider discussing and developing strategies to support the Sector budget initiatives and associated tradeoffs. The next four-year period is probably one of the most important periods for the Radiocommunication Sector and the development of wireless communication and information infrastructures. 2.8 Review of work methods The success with which the Sector achieves its objectives is dependent on the resources that Members/members apply to its activities. The current work methods of the Sector have been in existence for two Radiocommunication Assembly cycles and significant experience has been gained regarding their use. The current methods have to an extent moved a larger part of the burden from the Union to the participants. This process has been burdensome to the participants and has in some cases exceeded available resources. In preparation for the 1995 Radiocommunication Assembly, the RAG should review the current process with the intent of creating efficiencies and perhaps reduced workloads driven by revised priorities. 2.9 Other international organizations A cornerstone of telecommunications development is the emergence of a global information economy and society. For the ITU to maintain its leadership it must interface with relevant world and regional organizations, e.g. GATT and the new World Trade Organization (WTO). In keeping with the intent of the Strategic Plan, the RAG should discuss the Sector's role in developing ties between the ITU and other international and regional organizations concerned with telecommunications. Advice should be developed that the Director can use when the topic of ties to other international organizations is discussed within the Coordinating Committee. 3 Refinement of ITU-R and ITU-T Sectors (Resolution COM4/9) Kyoto 1994 reviewed the background concerning this topic taking into account Resolution 2 of the Additional Plenipotentiary Conference (APP), Geneva 1992, work that has subsequently been accomplished as well as input documents to Kyoto. Kyoto decided that the review process established by Resolution 2 of the APP shall be maintained. Further, that the Directors of the ITU-R and ITU-T Bureaux shall, with the assistance of their respective advisory groups (RAG and TSAG), consider further elements for refining the ITU's structure, including any necessary amendments to the Constitution and the Convention. A preliminary report would be submitted to the 1996 Council and a final report to the 1998 Council. The RAG should discuss, based on inputs from the Director, the process and schedule for the preliminary and final reports. These views would form the basis for discussions at the January 1995 joint RAG/TSAG meeting. 4 Rights and obligations of all members of the Union's Sectors (Resolutions COM4/2 and 4/3) The two Resolutions represent significant steps in enhancing the participation of members in the work of the Union. With the changing telecommunications environment, members are playing an ever-increasing role in telecommunications development. Their important contributions to the work of the Sectors needs to be recognized and their rights enhanced in furtherance of the Union's goal of technical pre-eminence in telecommunications. Resolution COM4/2 concerns the rights and obligations of members under Article 19 of the Convention. In keeping with this Resolution, the Bureaux Directors are instructed to develop provisions in their respective rules of procedures. The BR Director should develop the appropriate rules of procedure for approval at the October 1995 Radiocommunication Assembly. The RAG should discuss this process with regard to timing and potential review prior to the Assembly. The principle intent of Resolution COM4/3 is to review the rights and obligations of Members of the Union, with the aim of enhancing their rights and active/effective participation in the work of the Sectors. The Secretary-General has been instructed to establish a Review Committee to achieve that goal with inputs to Council 1996 for adoption within its powers. Proposals outside the competence of Council will be forwarded to the 1998 Plenipotentiary Conference. The advisory groups to the Sectors are expected to provide appropriate inputs to the Committee. The Directors are to initiate a review of the procedures and processes of their Sectors to determine ways of enhancing member participation. The RAG should discuss, in conjunction with the Director, the Sector review process, the development of RAG Recommendations to the Review Committee and coordination of ITU-R contributions with the other Sectors. 5 Frequency coordination and planning framework for satellite networks (Resolution COM4/10) Extensive discussions regarding the existing coordination procedures and regulatory framework for satellite networks resulted in Resolution COM4/10. This came about recognizing the diversity of views regarding the ability of the current framework to adequately support the introduction of new networks within acceptable constraints and timelines as well as the frameworks relevancy within a rapidly advancing technological environment. The Resolutions instruct the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau to initiate a review of some important issues concerning international satellite network coordination. This would be done in consultation with the RAG and consider inputs from the Radio Regulations Board (RRB). The RAG should review the plans of the Director regarding the process, structure and scope of the review delineated in Resolution COM4/10. This should include the nature of the preliminary report to WRC-95 and the coordination process with the Directors of the other Bureaux. 6 Summary There are numerous topics which the RAG should address that are associated with reports to WRC-95, the Radiocommunication Assembly preparations and the initiation of key studies identified by Kyoto. With the very limited time available for the January 1995 meeting, the RAG should concentrate on topics where its advice would provide maximum benefit to the development of the Director's work programme. *******