Opinions that emerged from last week’s ITU policy forum on IP tel...

Secy. of State for international communications and information policy. “We were willing to talk about studies; we weren’t willing to talk about conclusions to studies that haven’t taken place yet,” he told us. ITU forums don’t generate regulatory decisions but produce opinions for member countries to consider. Meeting that ended Fri. generated 4 opinions covering IP telephony, including Opinion D that called for “essential studies” by ITU to facilitate introduction of IP telephony, including interoperability considerations of implementing newer networks alongside circuit- switched infrastructure. Earlier versions of Opinion D, proposed by Syria with backing of countries such as Lebanon and Somalia, called on ITU to ensure there was way to measure traffic across IP telephony networks and backward compatibility between public switched telephone networks (PSTN) and IP-based systems. Version approved at forum Fri. eased off language that stirred concerns by U.S. and allies such as Canada and U.K. “At the end of the day, the opinions have a better tone from our point of view,” Beaird told us. “We have a basis for going forward on a number of studies and workshops. It’s important to bring the developing world along in this area.” Proposal for backward-compatibility in earlier versions of Opinion D had aroused particular concern. “Backward” was eliminated from final version to end confusion about exactly what would have been covered, said Helen Domenici, policy analyst with FCC International Bureau’s Telecom Div. One interpretation of original wording would have been that backward compatibility imposed same obligations on IP networks as typically were obligations of PSTN, she said. “It could have meant requiring a whole raft of regulations on the network,” Domenici said. Other opinions address general implications of IP telephony for telecom policies of ITU members, including regulatory frameworks of developing countries. Another opinion calls for actions to assist ITU members “in adapting to the changes in the telecommunication environment due to the emergence of IP telephony,” including case studies and cooperative actions. While participants in forum wrestled with how to define IP telephony, opinions ultimately steered clear of locking in definition. “This is a work in progress,” FCC International Bureau Chief Donald Abelson said, citing evolving nature of technology. “It’s difficult to lock in a precise definition.” Eric Lee, public policy dir. for Commercial Internet eXchange Assn., said resolutions generally marked compromises among participants “that while satisfying no one, didn’t do any damage.” In particular, day-long information session March 6, held before start of 3-day forum, helped bring international regulators up to speed on technology. “People came out more knowledgeable, even if they didn’t have specific policy questions answered,” he said.