I NTERNATIONAL T ELECOMMUNICATION U NION
General Secretariat
6 January 2009
Ref:
- Member States and Sector Members
DM-09/1000
Contact: A. Ntoko/B. Pluchon
Tel:
+41 22 730 6266
Fax:
+41 22 730 5881
E-Mail:
wtpf2009@itu.int
- Organizations that have the right to attend ITU
conferences and meetings as observers
Subject: Update on the Fourth World Telecommunication Policy Forum (WTPF-09)
⎯
Dear Sir/Madam,
Further to my circular letter DM-08/1016, I am pleased to provide you with an update on preparations
for WTPF-09.
1.
Report of the Secretary-General
The second meeting of the Informal Expert Group took place on 24-25 November 2008 at ITU
Headquarters. The Informal Expert Group reviewed a preliminary third draft of the report of the
Secretary-General and discussed the format of the Forum. The Informal Expert Group also proposed a
revised timetable for the preparatory process as follows:
24 June 2008
First meeting of the Informal Expert Group (IEG).
Deadline for receipt of IEG Membership written comments on
preliminary second draft of the Report of the Secretary-General to first
meeting of IEG.
6 July 2008
Online posting and circulation of second draft of the Report of the
Secretary-General (incorporating comments and broad outlines for
possible draft opinions).
15 July 2008
30 September 2008
Deadline for receipt of comments on second draft of the Report of the
Secretary-General.
24-25 November 2008
Second meeting of the Informal Expert Group.
8 December 2008
Deadline for receipt of IEG Membership written comments on
preliminary third draft of the Report of the Secretary-General presented
to the second meeting of IEG.
19 December 2008
Online posting and circulation of third draft of the Report of the
Secretary-General
Place des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Telephone +41 22 730 51 11
Telefax Gr3: +41 22 733 72 56
Gr4: +41 22 730 65 00
Telex 421 000 uit ch
Telegram ITU GENEVE
E-mail: itumail@itu.int
www.itu.int
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19 January 2009
Deadline for submitting opinions to Secretariat to be discussed during
the third meeting of the Informal Expert Group
26-27 (morning only) January
2009
Third meeting of the Informal Expert Group to discuss opinions.
1 February 2009
Deadline for receipt of comments on third draft of the Report of the
Secretary-General.
1 March 2009
Final report of the Secretary-General and deadline for its publication.
1 April 2009
Deadline for submitting written views on report of the Secretary-General
to Secretariat to be presented during the forum for the adoption of
opinions.
20 April 2009
Possible fourth meeting of the Informal Expert Group
21 April 2009
“Confronting the Crisis” – A strategic dialogue on ICTs
22-24 April 2009
WTPF-09
The Chairman’s report and the documents related to the second meeting of the Informal Expert Group
are available at http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/wtpf/wtpf2009/ieg.html
Subsequent to these changes in the timetable, the third draft of the report of the Secretary-General was
posted on the WTPF website at http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/wtpf/wtpf2009/report.html on 19 December
2008. To ensure the report reflects the views and opinions of the entire ITU membership, I would like to
invite you to submit your final comments and contributions to the secretariat at wtpf2009@itu.int by
1 February 2009.
2.
Pre-registration
Pre-registration for the Forum will begin on 21 January 2009 and will be carried out on-line at the
Forum website http://www.itu.int/wtpf2009/.
Focal points responsible for handling registration formalities will receive a username and password
providing access to the on-line system in due course.
3.
Fellowships
Subject to the availability of funds, participants from Least Developed Countries and countries with a
GDP per capita less than 2’000 USD (with priority to LDCs) may apply for a fellowship if duly
authorized by his/her administration. Requests for fellowships should be limited to one per country and
should be submitted on-line, at registration, by 16 March 2009.
4.
Accommodation
Due to the April 2009 holiday season, you are strongly encouraged to book your hotel accommodation
in Lisbon as soon as possible. This can be done through the host country website at http://wtpf2009.org/.
Special rates will only be guaranteed for bookings made by 31st January 2009.
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5.
Documentation
The WTPF-09 will be conducted in a paperless manner. Upon your arrival at registration in Lisbon, you
will be provided with copies of WTPF documentation on a memory (USB) key. Participants are
requested to bring their laptop PCs with them to work at the Forum.
6.
Comments by the membership on the report of the Secretary-General during the Forum
Heads of delegations will have an opportunity to make additional comments on the report of the
Secretary-General at the Forum, in particular with regard to the review and adoption of the Forum
Opinions. To this end, a separate invitation has been sent to Ministers and CEOs of ITU Member States
and Sector Members.
I look forward to working with you to ensure the success of the fourth WTPF.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Hamadoun I. Touré
Secretary-General