L27 - Introduction to The ITU

Question 1

Explain the role and significance of the ITU

Answer 1

• Spectrum drives capacity for Wi-Fi, mobile phones, tablets, TV/radio, satellites
o Vast competition for access
• Each country controls access to spectrum w/in its own territory →complicates desire to use the same spectrum across national borders
• Companies/countries use the ITU to seek orbital resources and coordinate with existing users
• Facilitates regulation, standardization, coordination, and development of international telecoms and harmonizes national policies

Question 2

Explain the ITU’s structure and membership

Answer 2

• Intergovtl org, specialized agency of UN
o No authority over member states, no regulatory authority, minimal enforcement powers, not led by Director General
• Voting Member states, non-voting sector members (private sector companies, telecom organizations, satellite orgs), associates, academia, related UN orgs
• Article 44 – member states endeavour to limit # of frequencies used and apply latest technology to do so b/c frequencies are a limited natural resource and via OST are free for all to use
• Article 45 – no harmful interference

Question 3

Explain the ITU’s mission related to space

Answer 3

• Purpose: international cooperation, technical assistance to developing countries, promote development of technical facilities, promote extension of benefits of new telecom tech to all people, promote use of telecoms to facilitate peaceful relations, harmonize actions of member states
• Activities: allocate bands of radio-frequency spectrum, allot radio frequencies/orbital positions in GEO or other orbits and register the assignments to avoid harmful interference, coordinate efforts to eliminate harmful interference, facilitate standardization of telecom
• Periodic International Organization
o Plenipotentiary Conference at top that meets every 4 years, smaller Council that meets annually to decide big questions
• Works by consensus but can also vote
o Radio, Telecon, and Development Conferences each with study groups and advisory groups, meet every 4 years
• Study groups come together with specific ideas for improvements and discuss solutions → produce ground rules for how systems operate in a given orbit
o General Secretariat: Secretary General and Deputy elected by states to direct Radio, Telecom, and Development bureaus – these are people in Geneva all the time

Question 4

Explain the institutional framework of the Radio-communication Sector, including key outputs

Answer 4

• Tasks
o Coordinates use of radio-frequency spectrum including satellite orbits
o Studies re setting tech/operational parameters
• World Radio-communication Conference → Radio-communication Assembly → radio-communication study groups
• Outputs
o Master International Frequency Register – frequency assignments and orbital characteristics
o Treaty level radio regulations – allocations, plans, procedures
o Regulatory publications
o ITU-R Recommendations (standards) and Handbooks
• World Radio-communication Conferences held every 4 years, agenda recommended by previous WRC and approved by Council, adopt technical studies and work plan for 6-10 year cycle
o Produce Final acts that include updates to radio regulations
o Radio regulations board that interprets the regulations between conferences