[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

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                                       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.
    
    
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