The International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) is held once every four years. The WTSA defines general policy for the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), establishes the Sector’s Study Groups and approves their work program for each four-year study cycle. In addition, the WTSA appoints the Study Group Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen. The previously Assembly, WTSA 2000, was held in Montreal, Canada. WTSA 2004 will be held in Florianopolis, Brazil from October 5-14, 2004 at the invitation of the Brazilian government.

More specifically, the WTSA will consider reports from the ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector’s Study Groups (SGs) and the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) and determine the structure and areas of study for the next four-year cycle. It is also expected that that WTSA 2004 will consider changes to further improve the working methods of the ITU-T Sector and the strategic direction of the Sector within the ITU Strategic Plan approved by the 2002 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference .

The FCC participates, along with other agencies and the public, in the U.S. preparatory process and on the U.S. delegation to the WTSA. Both processes are headed by the Department of State.

- Chris Murphy
Chief, International Telecommunications and Development Branch, FCC

• Regional Preparations
  • [Africa | APT | CITEL]
• International Telecommunication Union World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly Presentation 11/09/04
  Comment : Presentation by the International Bureau on the ITU World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA), held October 2004 in Brazil.
  Press Release [Acrobat|Word|Text]
  Slides [Acrobat]
  Remarks [Word]