Background

Plenipotentiary Resolution 140 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010) requests the Council “to elaborate through the Sector study groups and submit a working definition of the term "ICT" to the Council and working groups of the Council, for possible transmission to the next plenipotentiary conference”.

Council 2011 further instructed the Director of BDT “to conduct consultations with the chairmen of ITU-D study groups and TDAG for the creation of a group for elaboration of a working definition of the term ‘ICT’ open for the participation of other Sector membership, and the Directors of BR and TSB to conduct consultations with the chairmen of ITU-R and ITU-T study groups, RAG and TSAG regarding the participation of representatives of their Sector study groups in that activity and report to the Council session 2012.”

The 2012 meeting of TDAG invited “Study Group 1 to set up the Working Group by September 2012 and to submit the results of its work for consideration by ITU-D Study Groups 1 and 2 as well as TDAG in 2013. TDAG further invited the BDT Director to inform Council 2012 that such an activity has been initiated and report to Council 2014 on the outcomes on this work.”

The Group on the elaboration of a working definition of the term "ICT", which will communicate by correspondence, was established during the September 2012 meeting of ITU-D Study Group 1.

Composition of the Correspondence Group

• The Correspondence Group on the elaboration of a working definition of the term “ICT” is open to all ITU Member States, and Sector Members, Associates, Academia of ITU-T, ITU-R and ITU-D.
• The Correspondence Group is chaired by ITU-D Study Group 1 Chairman Ms. Roxanne McElvane (United States of America).
• The Correspondence Group will use the e-mail list cg-def-ict@itu.int.
• The Correspondence Group interactions may include email exchange via the email list or through electronic meetings.
• The Correspondence Group convener is ITU-D Study Group 1 Chairman Ms. Roxanne McElvane (United States of America) and the Correspondence Group co-convener is Chairman of TDAG, Dr. Vladimir Minkin (Russian Federation).

Terms of Reference for the Correspondence Group

• Gather and analyze background information that can be used in elaborating a working definition of “ICT” including the existing L.1400 (02/2011) definitions (ICT Goods, ICT Networks, ICT Project, ICT Sector, and ICT Services).
• Formulate proposed guidelines on a working definition of “ICT”
• Submit the proposed guidelines to ITU-D Study Groups 1 and 2.
• Report to the next TDAG meeting in 2013.
   

Reference Documents and Links to Useful Websites

Ref.#	Title
1.	Plenipotentiary Resolution 140 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010) on “ITU's role in implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society”
2.	Excerpt from the Council 2011 summary related to the issue
3.	Excerpt from the TDAG 2012 meeting report
4.	Contributions from the Russian Federation in 2011 and 2012 on the issue can be found in the following documents: TDAG12-17/26 TDAG11-16/25 C11/61(Rev.1) ITU-D SG1 1/194
5.	Existing L.1400 (02/2011) Definitions ((ICT Goods, ICT Networks, ICT Project, ICT Sector, ICT Services
6.	Radiocommunication Coordination Committee for Vocabulary (ITU-CCV)
7.	Standardization Committee for Vocabulary (SCV)