The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Internet

The ITU has an ongoing and critical role to play in advancing telecommunications-density and awareness about related telephony and wireless standards on a global basis. Given that today, still more than 50% of the world’s population has yet to make a telephone call; it is essential for all parties concerned that the ITU concentrate on its well-developed areas of expertise and in fulfilling its own core mission and related activities. In the meantime, the Internet’s “network of networks” which utilizes standards developed via the ITU already has an existing mechanism through ICANN where the necessary coordination and management of key functions are undertaken.ICC acknowledges and strongly supports the ITU’s continued contributions to the formulation

of global telephony standards and spectrum allocations, as well as its extensive work in the developing world. ICC also acknowledges the diversity of perspectives among ITU member countries seeking to better understand and to become more “engaged” in Internet issues.

However, ICC does not support merging or moving the functions of either ICANN or the ITU, or of changing the scope of responsibility of either organization. All parties will benefit if the important responsibilities of each remain their key focus, and information exchanges with each other and with existing fora and organizations are enhanced.