[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 4, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6256-6258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02216]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 11020]


United States Proposals and Positions for the U.S. Delegation to 
the 2020 World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-2020)

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Government seeks input from stakeholders and 
interested parties to help develop its proposals and positions for the 
U.S. Delegation

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regarding matters that will be addressed at the upcoming 2020 World 
Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-2020) of the 
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), being held November 17-27, 
2020 in Hyderabad, India. The results of this Notice and Request for 
Public Comment will be taken into account as the United States develops 
proposals and positions for WTSA-2020, a process which is being 
coordinated by the U.S. Department of State.

DATES: Comments are due on or before February 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail to Adam Lusin, 
Director, Office of International Communications and Information 
Policy, Bureau of Economic & Business Affairs, 2201 C Street NW, Room 
4634, Washington, DC 20520. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically to [email protected] and [email protected]. Comments 
provided electronically should be submitted in a text searchable format 
using standard Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF. Comments will be posted to 
the State Department website at https://www.state.gov/international-telecommunication-advisory-committee/ committee/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this Notice 
contact: Adam Lusin, Director, Office of International Communications 
and Information Policy, Bureau of Economic & Business Affairs, 2201 C 
Street NW, Room 4634, Washington, DC 20520; telephone: (202) 647-5834; 
email: [email protected]. Please direct media inquiries to the Office 
of Public Affairs, State Dept., at (202) 647-6575.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Background: The International 
Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunication Standardization Sector 
(ITU-T) World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), held 
every four years, sets the sector's overall strategic direction and 
activities for the next four years; defines ITU-T's general policy; 
approves, modifies, or rejects ITU-T Standards (known as 
``Recommendations''); and establishes the ITU-T study groups' 
structure, approves their work program for the next four-year period, 
and appoints their Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen. The next WTSA conference 
(WTSA-20) will be held November 17-27, 2020 in Hyderabad, India. 
Participants historically include ministers, ambassadors, government 
regulators and policymakers, regional and international organizations, 
and representatives from academia, civil society, and industry.
    The United States Government seeks input from stakeholders and 
other interested parties to develop and refine the U.S. approach for 
participation at WTSA-20 and in the ITU-T more broadly. Under the 
auspices of the U.S. Department of State's International 
Telecommunications Advisory Committee (ITAC), the United States' 
preparatory process is intended to ensure U.S. proposals and positions 
are consistent with U.S. international digital economy policy, 
reinforce our approach to international standards, reflect and advance 
U.S. priorities and approaches, and foster an environment that promotes 
economic growth and technological innovation.
    Discussion: The United States approach to international standards 
supports open, private sector-led, transparent, consensus-based 
processes that help lead to timely, robust, market-relevant, and 
technically appropriate standards. Given the number and range of 
telecommunication and information and communication technology 
standards being developed by a range of standards development 
organizations (SDOs), the discussions and negotiations at WTSA-20 will 
offer a valuable opportunity to shape the appropriate scope of work for 
the ITU-T within the international telecommunications/ICT standards 
ecosystem.
    Purpose: The purpose of this Notice and Request for Public Comment 
is to seek input from stakeholders and interested parties to share 
their perspectives on whether and how the ITU-T's work produces 
standards that are impactful and meet current and evolving market 
needs. We are particularly interested in responses regarding ITU-T 
restructuring, working methods, and rules of procedure. We are further 
interested in views regarding U.S. participation in the various ITU-T 
study groups and information that can support the development of a 
longer-term United States vision and strategy regarding ITU-T 
engagement. Please provide insights on these areas as well as the 
specific questions outlined below.

Questions for Public Comment

Objectives and Priorities

    (1) What overarching vision, objectives and priorities do you 
believe the U.S. delegation should adopt for WTSA-20 and for U.S. 
ongoing engagement in the ITU-T? What is the best way for the U.S. 
delegation to advance and ultimately achieve these objectives and 
priorities?
    (2) In what areas or subjects do you believe the ITU-T has a 
particular role or expertise? What, if any, is the appropriate role for 
the ITU-T in developing standards in areas of emerging technologies? 
How do ITU standards and related standards development activities 
influence or affect U.S. industry interests in the global digital 
economy?
    (3) Do all ITU-T Recommendations conform to general U.S. goals for 
international standards in that they are market-relevant, timely, 
robust and fit for purpose?

Working Methods and Rules of Procedure

    (4) How are the procedures and working methods of ITU-T more or 
less effective than those of other standards setting organizations in 
enabling the development of market-relevant timely, robust and fit for 
purpose standards?
    (5) What, if any, modifications to the ITU-T working methods or 
study group structure would you recommend to improve the quality and 
effectiveness of the ITU-T's work?
    (6) What metrics might be used to measure the value and 
effectiveness of the ITU-T's outputs?

Participation

    (7) In what way does your organization participate in the work of 
the ITU-T? What factors inform your organizations' participation in the 
standards development work of ITU-T? For the immediate future, are you 
looking to increase or reduce your participation in the work of ITU-T? 
Why?
    (8) Assuming the ITU-T study group structure remains as it is 
today, in which study groups and activities should the United States 
government prioritize its participation and why?

Capacity-Building, Cooperation and Collaboration

    (9) What are your recommendations for how the ITU-T can best 
address the needs of developing countries regarding international 
standards development? Would ITU programs related to development and 
capacity building be better placed within the ITU Development Sector 
(ITU-D) or the ITU-T? How might the ITU address regional or developing 
country needs within its work or in its engagement with other SDOs?
    (10) What changes, if any, to ITU-T's methods of working with other 
standards and specification setting

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organizations would provide you value or benefit?

Franz J. Zichy,
Designated Federal Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-02216 Filed 2-3-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-07-P