NTIA/OIA INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES


Because NTIA serves as the Executive Branch's principle voice on telecommunications and information technology policy issues in numerous international fora, NTIA's international activities cover a broad range. These fora include:

International Organizations:

  • International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
  • Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD)
  • The World Trade Organization (WTO)

    Miscellaneous Organizations:

    International Satellite Organizations:

  • International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT)
  • International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat)

    Regional Organizations:

  • Organization of American States Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (OAS CITEL)
  • Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Telecommunications Working Group
  • Southern Africa Regional Telecommunications Restructuring Program (RTRP)

    How Are International Telecommunications and Information Technology Policies Made?

    International telecommunications and information policies are developed on three separate levels:

    --the country level through the Ministries of telecommunications and/or information;

    --the regional level through organizations such as the European Union (EU), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC represents 18 Asia-Pacific economies), and the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL is an entity of the Organization of American States designed to facilitate and further the development of telecommunications in the region); and

    --the multilateral level through entities such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU--the international telecommunications regulatory and standard setting body), INTELSAT/Inmarsat (multilateral treaty-based governmental organizations providing global satellite communications), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    At the country level, the Ministry of telecommunications is frequently both the national regulator and the telecommunications policy maker. As a result, the Ministry is responsible for regulating the telecommunications industry--determining the rules of the market, the number of entrants, and the range of services that can be offered to the public. In addition, the Ministry has been typically the monopoly owner of the telecommunications provider of local, long-distance, and international service. The main thrust of U.S. telecommunications policy is to urge government officials to privatize their government monopolies and open them to competition -- including of course, competition from American companies.

    At the regional level, organizations such as the EU, APEC, and CITEL bring together the telecommunications policy officials from countries in the region. Together, they coordinate and formulate joint telecommunications and information policies and practices. There is a growing trend among these organizations to include the voice of the private sector, to gain from their experiences.

    At the multilateral level, organizations such as the ITU, OECD, WTO, INTELSAT and Inmarsat bring together countries around the world to coordinate and formulate global telecommunications and information policies and practices.

    Examples of NTIA Office of International Affairs (OIA) Initiatives:

  • Achieving Global Consensus on the Future of Telecommunications

    • * Through Multilateral, Regional, and Bilateral Initiatives

    ** Global Information Infrastructure (GII)--In the GLOBAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE: AGENDA FOR COOPERATION, OIA developed and launched the Administration's detailed Action Plan for developing the GII in the 21st century. The Action Plan provides a strategic framework for developing procompetitive policies and practices.

    The U.S. GII principles and Action Plan have galvanized the international telecommunications community into formulating their own GII plans and principles. In early 1995, for example, the G- 7, APEC, and Latin American countries adopted the core GII principles the United States advocates, and they are now implementing policies to foster the development of a GII. Although a nascent GII already exists, what we seek is a superior GII, one that has higher capacity, is fully interactive, faster, and more versatile. In addition, we want a GII that is less expensive to use than existing systems and more accessible to all the people of the world.

    We are laying the policy groundwork for the GII at multiple decision making levels, in every geographic region and through many international organizations by building a consensus around our core principles. The United States has been successful in using this GII vision as a platform to engage foreign governments in discussions about the direction and content of their telecommunications and information policies and practices. By achieving global consensus on what telecommunications networks should look like and what the ground rules should be, the United States is better equipped to fight for specific changes in national and international telecommunications and information practices that will make it easier for U.S. companies to compete internationally.

    ** Global Electronic Commerce--A natural follow-on to OIA's GII activities is our growing participation in the Administration's efforts to promote Global Electronic Commerce. Secretary Daley has made promotion of electronic commerce a Departmental priority, with its potential to greatly improve U.S. jobs creation and new market development for U.S. industry. The growing use of the Internet for electronic commerce mean the Administration will need to focus on appropriate policy and regulatory regimes, both domestically and internationally. The Administration's July 1997 report,A Framework for Global Electronic Commerce, will act as a blueprint for our endeavors.

  • Promoting Competition in Specific Telecommunications Sectors & Achieving Market Access for U.S. Industry

    • * Through Multilateral Initiatives

    ** Frequency Allocation For Fixed And Mobile Satellites--The biennial meeting of the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is responsible for allocating global spectrum. (Link to U.S. preparatory documents)

    NTIA, together with the FCC and the State Department,will seek allocations that will advance the GII, along with U.S.commercial interests in the United States and overseas markets. Given its mandate as manager of Federal spectrum, NTIA will continue to play a strong leadership role in WRC proceedings.

    ** Satellite Service Competition-- OIA is a strong advocate for global competition in the satellite communications sector. Traditionally this sector has been dominated by international cooperatives--INTELSAT and Inmarsat--both of which are currently considering options for restructuring. In part, because these organizations include a large number of state-owned operating companies, they are hesitant to allow a fully competitive marketplace. The United States continues to push for restructuring efforts that promote competition and deflect attempts to undermine U.S. objectives.

    * Through Regional Initiatives

    ** Latin American and Southeast Asian Telecommunications Summits--For several years OIA, in conjunction with the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), has undertaken a series of regional policy and technology discussions designed to give American companies the opportunity to meet with telecommunications Ministers and their principal staff. Typically, such meetings are structured around a series of bilateral policy discussions between the Minister and the Assistant Secretary of NTIA. Former Secretary Brown led two such conferences.

    Each conference is also attended by approximately 25 U.S. telecommunications equipment and service providers who have a unique opportunity to demonstrate their technologies. Corporate participation is managed through the TIA although TIA membership is not a requirement of participation. Although OIA does not gather specific information on sales made during such meetings, two firms participating in the first Latin American conference reported sales in excess of $75 million. There have been three very successful conferences in Latin America, four in Southeast Asia; current plans call for a fourth conference in Latin America and a first conference in China, led by Secretary Daley.

    By joining forces with industry, the United States is able to make a powerful case supporting the need for and advantages of procompetitive telecommunications and information technology policies. At the same time, U.S. industry is given direct access to these high-level decision makers, enabling them to make valuable contacts and complete a number of business deals.

    ** Other Regional Fora--OIA stays active within the key regional telecommunications organizations in which the United States can participate. OIA is an active member of the CITEL organization, promoting telecommunications and information policy reform throughout Latin America. As well, OIA actively participates in the APEC's efforts to create an Asia Pacific Information Infrastructure while promoting liberalization and reform throughout the Asian/Pacific/North & South American APEC region. OIA is the key organizational force behind the Southern Africa Regional Telecommunications Restructuring Program (RTRP), with an OIA staff member on detail in Botswana to administer our regional program objectives. OIA also actively participates in the OECD's efforts to promote a Global Information Society and the benefits of an open policy regime for the Internet.

    * Through Bilateral Initiatives

    ** Bilateral policy discussions--OIA participates in regularly-scheduled high-level telecommunications and information policy discussions with Russia, Mexico, Canada, China, Germany, France, United Kingdom, and the European Union. These discussions provide a unique opportunity to exchange views on both broad and narrow policy issues. Today many discussions focus on the structures and procedures needed for broad-scale liberalization. Earlier discussions provided the forum to begin introduction of international value-added networks (IVANS) which, in turn, often provided the impetus for initial liberalization.

    In the past few years, the Administration has signed bilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) of the GII with Russia, Argentina, and Chile. These MOUs highlight the intention of these nations to cooperate to realize the vision of the GII. In addition to these MOUs, NTIA has signed an agreement with the Chinese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to cooperate in the fields of science and technology. This cooperative effort provides us with the opportunity to advance the merits and applicability of U.S. technology.

    In addition, the Administration has completed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico for enhanced telecommunications services and are now discussing expansion of NAFTA. The Administration also has completed international value-added network services (IVANS) agreements with several countries including: Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

    ** Section 1377, 1988 Trade Act -- OIA also provides policy and technical expertise to the annual interagency review of the Telecommunications Trade Act of 1988. Under Section 1377 of this Act, the U.S. Government must decide if Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan are in compliance with agreements signed with the United States. Because OIA was actively involved in the negotiation of the relevant agreements, we continue to monitor compliance and work with companies to help resolve any issues that arise regarding their interpretation.

    ** World Trade Organization -- OIA was an integral part of the U.S. telecommunications negotiating team for the GATT organization's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) providing valuable technical expertise. In late 1993, the United States reached a world-wide agreement on opening value-added telecommunications services markets around the world. OIA/NTIA also served on the negotiating team for the renamed World Trade Organization's Group on Basic Telecommunications agreement negotiations(GBT). Through the GBT, the United States is seeking to extend market access commitments to the basic telecommunications sector (e.g., voice telephone services). In April 1997, 69 nations agreed to grant (Country Offers) market access to each other for basic telecommunications services.

    Foreign Market Information

    OIA also provides access to detailed sources of information on foreign telecommunications and information market. Please see below for further assistance electronically, or call OIA Staff for personal assistance.

  • International Related WebsitesOIA maintains a detailed hypertext listing of international sites and links to foreign telecommunications and information ministries, international organizations, and other international links, for further exploration of international topics
  • U.S. Department of Commerce Stat-USA Website

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