Le organizzazioni intergovernative per le telecomunicazioni. La loro privatizzazione

EXCERPT FROM “THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE FIELD OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS. THEIR PRIVATISATION” Different electromagnetic telegraph systems, codes and tariffs had grown up in western Europe which threatened to stifle development in the middle of the last century. The 1865 Paris Telegraph Conference resulted in the International Telegraph Convention, which propitiously agreed to use the international Morse code, to connect important cities ad to accept and deliver telegrams originating in other countries, thus assuring the bedrock creation of a common European telegraph network. The ITU can trace its history back to that Paris Conference and, as such, is the world’s oldest intergovernmental organization of any standing. Many other international treaties have succeeded it, viewed “inter-national” coordination as a matter of agreements between national entities. The primary goal of the ITU has always been to oversee and ensure interconnection and interoperability of national systems on a technical and administrative basis through its standards setting activities, recommendations on tariff and accounting rate principles, promoting the efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum and, increasingly, by supporting telecommunications development. Inside the ITU public and private sectors cooperate for development of telecommunications worldwide. The ITU adopts international regulations and treaties governing all terrestrial and space uses of the frequency spectrum as well as the use of the geostationary satellite orbit, within which countries adopt their national legislation. Moreover ITU fosters the development of telecommunications in developing countries by establishing medium-term development policies and strategies in consultation with other partners in the sector, and by providing specialized technical assistance in the areas of telecommunication policies, the choice and transfer of technologies, management, financing of investment, projects and mobilization of resources. The Union comprises a Plenipotentiary Conference, which is the supreme authority of the Union and which meets every four years to adopt the Strategic Plan and adopt the fundamental policies of the organization, and decide on the organization and activities of the Union. The first step in the government of the Union is the Council, composed of 46 Members of the Union which acts on behalf of the Plenipotentiary Conference and meets annually to consider broad telecommunication policy issues in order to ensure that the Union’s policies and strategies fully respond to the constantly changing telecommunication environment. The Council is also responsible for ensuring the efficient coordination of the work of the Union and the approval of budgets. Some World Conferences on international telecommunications, which meet according to needs, to establish the general principles which relate to the provision and operation of international telecommunications services offered to the public as well as the underlying