International Telecommunication Union

International Telecommunication Union Outline

The ITU was established in 1865 in Paris. It became a specialized agency of the UN in 1947. Its main function is to coordinate international cooperation in the area of telecommunications. It promotes international cooperation through various means, such as regulation of technical standards of telecommunication. Its headquarters are in Geneva. There are about 180 members in the union.(1)

Introduction to International Telecommunication Union

International Telecommunication Union (ITU), specialized United Nations agency, originally formed in Paris in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union. In 1934 the ITU was established to succeed all previous agencies in the telecommunications field, and in 1947 it became affiliated with the UN. The ITU has no permanent constitution, but its existence is renewed periodically by agreement among the members.

The objectives of the ITU are to maintain and extend international cooperation for the improvement and rational use of telecommunications of all kinds; to promote the development and efficient operation of technical facilities in order to improve telecommunication services, increase their usefulness, and make them generally available to the public; and to coordinate the actions of nations so they may attain these goals. Special concerns include the problems and opportunities arising from space telecommunications and the improvement of telecommunications in developing member nations.

The ITU is composed of 162 member states and has its headquarters in Geneva. The principal organ of the union is the plenipotentiary conference, which normally meets once every five years. The conference elects a 41-member administrative council that meets once a year to approve the ITU budget and to coordinate the work of the other organs of the union. These organs are the General Secretariat, the International Frequency Registration Board, the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee, and the International Radio Consultative Committee. World and regional administrative conferences are held occasionally to deal with technical questions.” (2)

Space Law ITU Documents

See more about world Space law basic legal documents here and about United States Space law basic legal documents here.

IN GENERAL

International Telecommunication Union Regulations: Final Acts of
the World Administrative and Telegraph Conference; Melbourne, 1988
The Plenipotentiary Conference of the International
Telecommunication Union: Recommendations and Resolutions; Kyoto, 1994
The Plenipotentiary Conference of the International
Telecommunication Union: Resolutions; Minneapolis, 1998
The Plenipotentiary Conference of the International
Telecommunication Union: Decision and Resolutions; Marrakesh, 2002
International Telecommunication UnionÂ—Radio-communication:
Radio Regulations, Edition of 2004

WSIS (WORLD SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY)

UTI World Summit on
Information Society: Declaration and Plan of Action; December 12, 2003
UTI World Summit on Information Society: Tunis Agenda and Commitment; November 18, 2005

GMPCS (GLOBAL MOBILE PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS BY SATELLITE)

International Telecommunication UnionÂ—Global Mobile Personal
Communications by Satellite Memorandum of Understanding, Geneva
WRC (World Radio-communication Conference)
International Telecommunication UnionÂ—World Radio-communication Conference: Resolutions, 1997-2003

INTER-AGENCY SPACE DEBRIS COORDINATION COMMITTEE

Terms of Reference for the IADC October 4, 2006

ITU – International Telecommunication Union