[Senate Treaty Document 110-16]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
110th Congress
2d Session SENATE Treaty Doc.
110-16
_______________________________________________________________________
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND CONVENTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (GENEVA, 1992)
__________
MESSAGE
from
THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
transmitting
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND CONVENTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (GENEVA, 1992), AS AMENDED BY THE
PLENIPOTENTIARY CONFERENCE (KYOTO, 1994) AND THE PLENIPOTENTIARY
CONFERENCE (MARRAKESH, 2002), TOGETHER WITH THE DECLARATIONS AND
RESERVATIONS BY THE UNITED STATES, ALL AS CONTAINED IN THE FINAL ACTS
OF THE PLENIPOTENTIARY CONFERENCE (ANTALYA, 2006)
April 8, 2008.--Treaty was read the first time, and together with the
accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and
order to be printed for the use of the Senate
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
The White House, April 8, 2008.
To the Senate of the United States:
With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the
Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the amendments to
the Constitution and Convention of the International
Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992), as amended by the
Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto, 1994) and the
Plenipotentiary Conference (Marrakesh, 2002), together with the
declarations and reservations by the United States, all as
contained in the Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference
(Antalya, 2006). I transmit also, for the information of the
Senate, the report of the Department of State concerning the
amendments.
The Plenipotentiary Conference (Antalya, 2006) adopted
amendments that, among other things: clarify the functions of
certain International Telecommunication Union (ITU) officials
and bodies; reduce the frequency of certain ITU conferences;
clarify eligibility for re-election to certain ITU positions;
enhance oversight of the ITU budget and provide for results-
based (as well as cost-based) budget proposals; expand the
scale of available contribution levels for Member States and
Sector Members; and, clarify the definition of and role of
observers participating in ITU proceedings.
Consistent with longstanding practice in the ITU, the
United States, in signing the 2006 amendments, made certain
declarations and reservations. Subject to those declarations
and reservations, I believe the United States should ratify the
2006 amendments to the International Telecommunication Union
Constitution and Convention. These amendments will contribute
to the ITU's ability to adapt to changes in the global
telecommunications sector and, in so doing, serve the needs of
the United States Government and United States industry.
It is my hope that the Senate will take early action on
this matter and give its advice and consent to ratification.
George W. Bush.
LETTER OF SUBMITTAL
----------
Department of State,
Washington, May 29, 2007.
The President,
The White House.
The President: I have the honor to submit to you, with a
view to their transmission to the Senate for advice and consent
to ratification, amendments to the Constitution and Convention
of the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992), as
amended by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto, 1994), the
Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998), and the
Plenipotentiary Conference (Marrakesh, 2002). The United States
signed these amendments to the Constitution and Convention on
November 24, 2006, at the Plenipotentiary Conference in
Antalya, Turkey. I also have the honor to submit to you certain
U.S. declarations and reservations made upon signature of these
amendments that also require Senate advice and consent.
The Department of State and the other agencies involved
recommend that these declarations and reservations be confirmed
in the U.S. instrument of ratificatiun of the amendments. The
Department of State and the other interested agencies are of
the view that no additional reservations are required. These
amendments will not require implementing U.S. legislation. The
National Telecommunications and Information Administration of
the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, the
Federal Communications Commission, and the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration concur in my recommendation that the
amendments, with the U.S. declarations and reservations
discussed above, be submitted to the Senate for its
consideration and advice and consent to ratification.
Respectfully submitted,
Condoleezza Rice.
Enclosure: Overview of the amendments.