WTPF-IEG/1/8
United States of America
Contribution for First Informal Expert Group Meeting on WTPF, June 24, 2008
Introduction
In Decision 9, the 2006 Antalya Plenipotentiary Conference decided to convene the fourth World
Telecommunication Policy Forum (WTPF) in Geneva, in the first quarter of 2009, in order to discuss and
exchange views on the theme of convergence, including Internet-related public policy matters, next
generation networks, emerging telecommunications policy and regulatory issues, and new and emerging
issues as referred to in Resolution 146. Consistent with Resolution 2 (Revised Marrakesh, 2002), this forum
shall neither produce prescriptive regulatory outcomes nor produce outputs that are binding. Rather, the
WTPF is an opportunity for Member States and Sector Members to discuss and exchange views and
information on telecommunication policy and regulatory matters.
The United States supports the approach of focusing on the theme of convergence as described in
Decision 9. We believe this WTPF will allow Member States and Sector Members the opportunity to share
experiences on how best to adapt to convergence, bearing in mind that convergence is a part of a broader
theme of transition from traditional circuit switched networks to packet switched platforms based on Internet
protocol (IP).
As legacy systems transition to IP-based platforms that support information and communication
technology (ICT), we should examine the potential of ICTs to address significant global issues. One such
issue is ICT and its effect on the environment. We believe the WTPF offers an opportunity for Member
States and Sector Member to recognize the intersections between ICTs and the environment. We believe we
would be remiss if we did not capture this historic moment when so much attention is paid to climate change
and the environment. Focusing on the environment will bring added value to the WTPF. Additionally, we
envision all three sectors -- Radiocommunication, Standardization, and Development-- contributing to the
discussion of ICT and the environment at the WTPF. We would also propose the addition of an extra day at
the forum, for presentations by the private sector on their environmental initiatives.
We see an approach to the WTPF consisting of two parts: 1) issues related to convergence as defined
in Decision 9; and 2) emerging issues arising from ICT and the environment. Discussions of both sets of
issues should be fulsome with both being equally prominent. By understanding these two trends, we believe
we can bring them together at the policy forum, culminating in useful Opinions.
Policy Issues Related to Convergence
The United States supports the in-depth discussion of the effects of convergence. We believe that
convergence is the main driving force behind changes in ICT today. Convergence brought about by
technological advances in compression and digitalization has fundamentally altered the nature of previously
disparate telecommunications and media platforms. As a result, previously siloed technology platforms are
now capable of supporting multiple voice, data and video services and applications. This, in some instances,
blurs previously defined service markets and causes the need to review traditional policy and regulatory
regimes.
One of the effects of convergence is the potential for competition among previously distinct service
providers. For example, technology now facilitates a customer purchasing voice service not only from the
traditional telecommunications provider as was traditionally done, but also from wireless, Internet service,
cable and satellite providers. A similar analogy can be made with respect to data and video services. As
market structures change, disparate regulatory regimes that were created for distinct services and associated
markets may need to be re-examined.
Convergence also causes policy-makers and regulators to reassess their appropriate roles in a
converged digital world. While no one today can authoritatively say how, or when, the digital
transformation will finally resolve itself, policy-makers and regulators in many countries are adopting
flexible approaches that allow continued technological advancement and minimal regulatory intervention.
With existing variations in markets, infrastructure, policy and regulatory systems, and levels of development
it is certain that digital convergence is going to vary between countries. Given these variances in systems it
is difficult to foresee a simple answer that accommodates all countries at the same time.
Emerging Policy Issues related to ICT and the Environment
ICTs have the potential to make a positive impact on the environment. ICT represents only 2.5 to
3.1 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, but could contribute significantly to addressing climate change.
The ITU’s involvement with the issue of telecommunications and information technologies in the protection
of the environment was developed initially at the Plenipotentiary Conference, 1994 (Resolution 351, Kyoto)
and at the World Telecommunication Development Conferences, in 1998 (Resolution 82, Valletta), in 2002
(Recommendation 73, Istanbul) and in 2006 (Resolution 544, Doha). In 2007, ITU and its membership and
partners launched a major program to investigate the specific relationship between ICT and climate change.
At the meeting of the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) in December 2007, a
Technology Watch Briefing Report on this topic was reviewed. TSAG provided advice to the Director of
the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) on a number of actions, including the holding of two
symposia during 2008. The first was held in Kyoto, Japan, 15-16 April 2008, and was co-organized and
hosted by the Ministry of International Affairs and Communications (MIC). The second was held in London,
UK, 17-18 June 2008, and was organized and hosted by British Telecommunication, plc.
Selected Examples of Emerging Issues Related to ICT and the Environment:
The science of climate change has also benefited greatly from convergence. For example, fixedmobile broadcast convergence will bring savings in the areas of paper substitution, flexible work
arrangements and traffic leveling for a stable power supply.1 This topic offers the WTPF the opportunity to
address developments in convergence and ICT and the environment within the context of a compelling
worldwide issue.
ICT has the potential to decrease reliance on ground transportation for content delivery, while
protecting the intellectual property rights of creators. A specific example of ICT used for content delivery is
“dematerialization”, or the replacement of “atoms” with “bits”. An example of this is the current shift from
physical to online delivery for media content. ITU-T standards for digital compression (such as the H-series
for multimedia, including MP3 and MP4) and ITU-T and ITU-R Recommendations for broadband access
networks (such as the ITU-T G-series, including DSL standards, the ITU-R BO, M, S series for radio access)
play a major role in this transition, which will have the effect of cutting down pollution caused by ground
transportation and production.
Member States can encourage use of ICT to bolster the international efforts to find solutions to the
problem of shortage in food. As stated by Secretary-General Touré: “ICT is gaining importance in
addressing climate change and the food crisis, on these issues, ICT is part of the solution, not part of the
Yutaka YASUDA, “The Contribution of Fixed Mobile Broadcast Convergence (FMBC) to reducing carbon
emissions,” ITU/MIC Kyoto Symposium on ICTs and Climate Change, Kyoto, 15-16 April 2008
1
problem.”2 One example of ICT mitigating the food crisis is the use of RFID to monitor food shipments to
ensure efficient shipping. Additionally, ICT applications can give farmers the ability to predict weather and
farming conditions with greater efficacy. ICT applications also enable farmers and fishermen to determine
how best to deliver food to the market, by effectively and efficiently communicating with markets and
colleagues. Sensor networks may also be used to monitor farming machinery and irrigation systems, to
ensure sustainable and environmentally-friendly agriculture.
ICT can be effectively employed in telecommuting. Increased reliance on telecommuting can
potentially lessen pollution outputs and help consumers avoid escalating fuel costs. Telecommuting can be
seamlessly interwoven into the work experience through data, voice and video applications over IP for
webcasts and teleconferencing.
ICT can increase the energy efficiency of products by creating “smarter” products that control their
own energy outputs, and conserve energy when not in use. Optimal examples (in terms of energy savings
and monetization) of “smart products” include smart buildings (including smart homes), industrial motor
optimization, smart grid and efficient logistics and supply chain.3
“Smart” technologies use sensing modules attached to electric instruments. The role of sensing modules
in power management is key. These smart technologies may be used within businesses and homes to create
ubiquitous sensor networks, with modules managing the power consumption of all electric instruments
within the network.4
Use of ICT in remote sensing, telemetry and climate modeling makes a significant impact on
environmental research. ITU work in this area focuses on the use of ICT for prediction, detection and
mitigation of effects of myriad natural and man-made disasters. For example, ITU-R Study Groups facilitate
the development of weather satellites to track the progress of hurricanes and typhoons, and weather radars to
track the progress of tornadoes and thunderstorms. Radio-based systems worldwide collect and transmit
valuable data necessary for accurate weather forecasts. In addition to radio-based systems, ubiquitous sensor
networks also provide significant amounts of climate data. One example of the potential of sensor networks
to monitor climate change is the ARGO and the Argos System.5 ARGO uses sensor networks to gather data
on the world’s upper oceans, with the goal of providing data to predict the future of the upper ocean and the
patterns of ocean climate variability, including heat and freshwater storage and transport. This global
initiative utilizes sensors and wireless communications to transmit real-time environmental data. ICT is also
vital to the weather and climate monitoring at the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) World
Weather Watch (WWW).
The current draft of the Secretary-General’s report for the WTPF includes emergency services as an
important policy item for the WTPF. The United States agrees with this concept but believes the issue
should be addressed within the context of disaster communication, under the broader umbrella of "ICT and
the Environment." Since its inception, the ITU’s mission has included telecommunications (including
radiocommunications) for disaster relief and for emergency services. More recently, at the Antalya ITU
Plenipotentiary Conference in 2006, Member States adopted Resolution 136 on the “Use of
telecommunications/ICTs for monitoring and management in emergency and disaster situations for early
warning, prevention, mitigation and relief” which, inter alia, calls upon the Directors of the Bureaux to
continue their technical studies and to support the development of early-warning, mitigation and relief
systems. Use of ICT during emergency and disaster situations may include broadcast sound and television
systems, different mobile radiocommunication systems, and satellite systems that warn the public of
dangerous weather events, aircraft pilots of storms and turbulence, and disseminate information for
2
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26704&Cr=Information&Cr1=Technology
Dr. Luis Neves, “The Global eSustainability Initiative (GeSI)” ITU/MIC Kyoto Symposium on ICTs and
Climate Change, Kyoto, 15-16 April 2008
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I Hiroshi Kumagai , Tetsuya Miyazaki, Tatsuya Yamazaki, and Motoaki Yasui Kumagai “ICTs for innovative sensing
for and networking toward sustainable society sustainable society” ITU/MIC Kyoto Symposium on ICTs and Climate
Change, Kyoto, 15-16 April 2008
5 The Argos satellite-based system was set up by: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), French space agency (CNES),
Japanese space agency (NASDA), and European Meteorological Satellite Organization (EUMETSAT).
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government and military aid providers. The United States believes these issues are of paramount importance,
especially given the recent natural disasters that have occurred in different global locations in recent years.
Further Comments on the Current Draft of the Secretary-General’s Report
Consistent with Resolution 2 (Revised Marrakesh, 2002), the Secretary-General’s Report serves as
the basis for discussion at the WTPF. Therefore, it is critical that the final report be comprehensive and
balanced. The United States notes that a second draft is expected to be posted June 30, 2008 shortly after the
expert’s group meeting. To facilitate the production of the second draft we offer the following additional
observations on the first draft.
The paper as a general manner should not be prescriptive or draw conclusions given the purpose of
the paper is to identify and describe issues in a neutral manner. Therefore, the paper should refrain from use
of terms such as "must" and "should," and treat issues in a consistent manner. Additionally, the paper should
limit itself to topics consistent with the mandate of the ITU and the core competencies of the Union. It
should also fully reflect existing agreements and past ITU work, such as the UN World Summit on the
Information Society, the "ITU Handbook on IP-based Networks and Related Topics and Issues," and the
ongoing work in the ITU-T Study Group regarding the need to build out national IXPs and introduce
competition at the gateway.
Conclusion
The WTPF should focus on the two themes suggested: issues regarding convergence as defined by
Decision 9, and emerging policy issues related to ICT and the environment. The first theme presents an
opportunity to assess issues arising from the transition to IP based networks that support ICTs. The second
theme examines the ITU’s role in one of the most important global issues in our time. We look forward to
discussions shared with our colleagues on these themes at the WTPF as well as the next steps in preparing
the Secretary General’s Report for the WTPF.