Recognizing WSIS Impacts

PP RESOLUTION 187 (Busan, 2014)

Review of the current methodologies and development of a future vision for the participation of Sector Members, Associates and Academia in the activities of ITU

The Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union ( Busan, 2014),

• recognizing
  • a) Resolution 152 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, on improvement of management and follow-up of the defrayal of ITU expenses by Sector Members and Associates, which revised procedures related to the payment of fees;
  • b) Resolution 158 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, on financial issues for consideration by the ITU Council, which instructed the Council to review the present approach to Sector membership, including the possibility of changes in areas such as the fee structure and membership categories, including the feasibility of combining Sector participation (i.e. a single ITU membership across all three Sectors), and asked the Council to review progress of implementation and recommend modifications where required;
  • c) Resolution 169 (Guadalajara, 2010) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, on admission of academia, universities and their associated research establishments to participate in the work of the three Sectors of the Union, which established this new category of participation on a trial basis, and instructed the Council to add any additional conditions or procedures if deemed appropriate, and to submit a report to the next plenipotentiary conference for a final decision on such participation;
  • d) Resolution 170 (Guadalajara, 2010) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, on admission of Sector Members from developing countries1 to participate in the work of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector and the Telecommunication Standardization Sector, which established a reduced fee structure to promote participation in the activities of the two Sectors,
• recalling
  • Resolution 1360, on study of the current methodologies for the participation of Sector Members, Associates and Academia, adopted by the 2013 session of the Council,
• considering
  • that the 2011 session of the Council referred follow-up to Resolution 158 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010) on these matters to the Council Working Group on Financial and Human Resources (CWG-FHR) to prepare recommendations, which in turn deliberated on this subject during its 2012-2014 meetings, including by means of a special open consultation with Sector Members, Associates and Academia,
• noting
  • that the Council, based on input from CWG-FHR, recommended that the Union implement changes to simplify, improve the fairness of and modernize the Sector membership system, while maintaining the existing three-Sector structure for Sector membership, including for Associates and Academia,
• resolves to instruct the Council
  • 1 to analyse the implications of various pricing methodologies for Sector Members and Associates, in terms of advantages and disadvantages, and consider additional benefits, including special status for Sector Members of all three Sectors;
  • 2 to study the current structure of membership and the benefits and participation rights of Sector Members, Associates and Academia, with a view to ensuring consistency and fairness between categories of membership;
  • 3 to review the practical application of the rights and obligations of Sector Members, as provided in the ITU Constitution and Convention and Resolution 14 (Rev. Antalya, 2006) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, as well as the arrangements for the participation of Associates and Academia, to ensure that they are properly recognized during ITU conferences, assemblies, study groups, working parties, advisory groups and other activities;
  • 4 to develop guidelines and training for chairmen/vice-chairmen, study group counsellors and others on such arrangements pertaining to various categories of membership and participation, following the review outlined in resolves to instruct the Council 3 above;
  • 5 to conduct studies on ways of increasing participation in the work of the Union among non-profit entities, specifically non-governmental organizations, dealing with telecommunication/ICT matters, including the feasibility of establishing a new category of participation with corresponding rights and obligations;
  • 6 to review the practice and criteria for exempting entities from membership fees and, if necessary, make changes to tighten the eligibility criteria to help bring greater clarity, consistency and fairness between paying and non-paying members and to reduce the total number of exempted entities;
  • 7 to develop a comprehensive consultation strategy with Member States, Sector Members, Associates and Academia and others as appropriate, so as to ensure that all points of view are thoroughly considered;
  • 8 to review, on an ongoing basis, through CWG-FHR, progress achieved on these studies, reviews and consultations with a view to implementing interim measures on a trial basis for final approval at the next plenipotentiary conference,
• instructs the Secretary-General and the Directors of the three Bureaux
  • to provide the necessary support to the Council to ensure that all members and participants have an opportunity to provide feedback to this initiative,
• invites Member States, Sector Members, Associates and Academia
  • to participate in consultations on the subject, and provide comments on an ongoing basis.