INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION RADIOCOMMUNICATION ADVISORY GROUP GENEVA, 23-25 JANUARY 1995 Document RAG95/16-E 20 December 1994 Original: English Sweden REFINEMENT OF THE ITU SECTORS 1 Introduction Pursuant to Resolution COM4/9 of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, Kyoto 1994, the Directors of the Radiocommunication and Telecommunication Standardization Bureaux shall, with the assistance of the Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG) and the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG), consider further elements for refining the ITU's structure (than what is foreseen in Resolution 2 of the APP, 1992), including any necessary amendments to the Constitution (CS) and the Convention (CV), and prepare a preliminary report to the ITU Council 1996 and a final report to the Council 1998. This document contains a discussion on some unclear areas in the structure of the ITU, and how the structure may be refined in order to be more clear and transparent. Finally, there is a proposal, giving the purpose, strategies, objectives and activities to achieve such a refinement. The scope of the Development Sector is relatively clear and is in itself not discussed further in this document. However, recognizing the necessity of the efficient use of the resources within the D Sector it should be underlined that duplication of work with the other two Sectors should be avoided. The refinement discussed in this document would help to avoid such duplication. 2 Unclear areas 2.1 Standardization of radio systems and equipment One problem which has caused considerable discussion is where to deal with the standardization on radio systems and equipment. Some guidelines for the division of standardization tasks between the R and T Sectors were given by the High Level Committee (H.L.C.). The decisions by APP-92 were: - that the precise responsibilities of the R and T Sectors shall be subject to continuing review, in close cooperation, with regard to matters of common interest to both Sectors, and that close coordination shall be carried out between all three Sectors (CS 79 and 105); - that Recommendations on interconnection of radio systems in public telecommunication networks and on the performance required for these interconnections shall be prepared by T Study Groups (CV 193); and - that the tasks for the R Study Groups (CV151-154, see section 2.1 above, items f) - i)) shall be kept under continuing review by the T and R Sectors with a view to reaching common agreement on changes in the distribution of matters under study (CV195 and Resolution 2). Consequently a first review of the former CCIR Questions has been carried out. Some Questions (or parts of Questions), have been transferred to the Telecommunication Standardization Sector, and the process for further review of the detailed responsibilities of the two Sectors is continuing as outlined in Resolution 2 of APP-92. This review may lead to some further transfer of matters to the Standardization Sector. However, the goal of the process is not clear, and the border between the two Sectors will, no doubt, be disputed within the ITU as well as outside. The difficulty is of course that in the end it is not clear to which of the two Sectors particular questions relating to standardization of radio systems and equipment should belong. There may be logical, practical and other reasons for any of the two Sectors. 2.2 Regulatory functions relating to telecommunications in general The forum for ITU Members to make agreements and take resolutions on telecommunication regulatory matters, other than those relating to radiocommunications, is the world conferences on international telecommunications (WCIT). This is an anomaly in the ITU Sector structure since it is not part of any of the three ITU Sectors. 3 Discussion Since the use of radiocommunications of different kinds is being integrated to an increasing degree in various telecommunication applications, narrow-band and broadband, and particularly the use of digital techniques is rapidly increasing, it would seem to be the most appropriate alternative to transfer the remaining work on standardization of radio systems and equipment to the Standardization Sector. The Telecommunication Standardization Sector should be refined to deal with technical and operating questions with a view to standardizing telecommunications of all kinds, i.e. including radiocommunications. The Sector should maintain the present activities relating to standardization on systems and equipment and in addition carry out global standardization on all kinds of radiocommunication systems and equipment. What would remain in the Radiocommunication Sector is a very wide range of administrative/regulatory work in the form of Recommendations, Resolutions and agreements between administrations in the radiocommunication area, in particular relating to the use of radio frequencies. This is clear when considering the Radio Regulations, consisting of some 2 000 pages in three volumes, which are subject to partial review at the biennial world radiocommunication conferences. The responsibilities of the ITU in the regulatory area concerning radiocommunication are also reflected in the need for the Radio Regulations Board. It may then be considered whether the Radiocommunication Sector could be redefined to a Sector for all kinds of administrative matters, i.e. matters that require international agreements on rules and regulations to be applied by administrations, operators, industry and users. A Sector defined in such a way would maintain all the responsibilities of the Radiocommunication Sector relating to the WRCs, the RRB and parts of the ITU-R Study Groups. Such a Sector for administrative matters would also take on the responsibilities related to the world conferences on international telecommunications. The WCIT, when it occasionally may be required, would then fit naturally in the Sector structure with the support from Study Groups as necessary and from the Bureau of the Sector. An Administrative Sector may be appropriate also for the study of technical and administrative questions relating to numbering and administrative and economic questions relating to tariff principles, presently within the Standardization Sector, and to prepare Recommendations based on these studies with a view to supporting necessary international agreements or to supporting the national regulatory authorities in these areas. The work in the radio regulatory field does not include standardization of systems and equipment, except in respect of limiting values for certain parameters of importance for the compatibility between radio systems. The separation of the responsibilities in this area between international standardization on the one hand and agreements on regulatory requirements to be applied at national level on the other hand requires some special caution. The interrelationship between the two Sectors (after refinement) in the determination of such limiting values needs to be defined. Although an Administrative Sector at the conference level would be the forum for international agreements on rules and regulations to be applied by administrations, operators, industry and users, the Sector should, as presently with the Radiocommunication Sector, be open to all concerned, i.e. both "M" and "m" members in accordance with Article 19 of the Convention. To support the conferences and the Bureau of the Administrative Sector as well as to support the Radio Regulations Board (which would be kept without change) there would be an Assembly and Study Groups. With the two Sectors thus redefined, and together with the Development Sector, the ITU would have a much clearer profile - one Sector for the standardization of characteristics and performance of all kinds of telecommunication systems, including those using radiocommunication, another Sector for agreements and Recommendations (based on technical, operational and administrative studies) for regulatory application at national level and the third Sector for development projects and Recommendations. Furthermore, such a redefinition of the two Sectors may facilitate the differentiation between Sectors of the procedures and conditions for participation and the rights and obligations among the "M" Members and the different categories of "m" members which is to be studied by the Review Committee to be established according to Resolution COM4/3 of the Plenipotentiary Conference, Kyoto 1994. 4 Conclusion 4.1 Purpose The structure of the ITU should be refined in such a way that the functions and responsibilities of each Sector are clear and transparent. 4.2 Strategies The Telecommunication Standardization Sector shall be the pre- eminent global standardization body in the whole telecommunications field, including radiocommunications. A Telecommunication Administrative Sector shall be set up which shall be the forum for efficient cooperation in the telecommunications (including radiocommunications) administrative/regulatory area. 4.3 Objective The refined ITU structure shall be decided upon by the Plenipotentiary Conference, 1998, for implementation in 1999. 4.4 Activities a) Redefine the Telecommunication Standardization Sector to have the following functions: - to fulfil the purposes of the ITU relating to telecommunication standardization by studying technical and operating questions and adopting Recommendations on them with a view to standardizing telecommunications, including radiocommunications, on a worldwide basis; the Telecommunication Standardization Sector shall work through: - WTSC; - Study Groups, and - Bureau; b) redefine the Radiocommunication Sector to a Telecommunication Administrative Sector, which shall have the following functions: - to be the forum for efficient cooperation in the telecommunications (including radiocommunications) administrative/regulatory area; - to fulfil the purposes of the ITU relating to telecommunications in general by ensuring the rational use of telecommunications including radiocommunications; - to ensure the rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including those using the geostationary-satellite orbit; - to carry out studies without limit of frequency range and adopt Recommendations on radiocommunication matters relating to the use of the radio-frequency spectrum, and - to carry out studies and adopt Recommendations on numbering and tariff principles; the Telecommunication Administrative Sector shall work through: - WRC and RRC; - WCIT; - RRB; - Assembly; - Study Groups, and - Bureau; c) develop the necessary modifications to the Constitution and Convention of the ITU. d) submit a report to the 1996 Session of the Council aiming at consideration and decision by the Plenipotentiary Conference, 1998. ******