NTIA Preparation for the World Radiocommunication Conferences

NTIA is responsible for coordinating the federal government's participation in the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) and related national and international meetings. NTIA receives recommendations for U.S. preliminary views and proposals for these World Radiocommunications Conferences from the Radio Conference Subcommittee (RCS), a subcommittee of the Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC). This subcommittee is tasked with preparing for WRCs, including the development of recommended United States proposals for the conferences and preparatory meetings.

The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is an international forum for world agreement on the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits. The WRCs were previously held every two to three years and now extend to four years. The WRC reviews and revises the Radio Regulations and operates by consensus, with occasional voting. In recent years, the WRC puts a greater emphasis on consolidated regional positions and proposals -- and sets the world stage for future technological development.

You may address questions about WRC activities to the persons listed below.

RCS meetings are regularly scheduled to meet on a monthly basis (All meetings are held in the IRAC Meeting Room at the Department of Commerce).

NTIA and U.S. Preliminary View and Proposal Development

After the RCS makes recommendations to NTIA, NTIA will review and revise these recommendations and determine which proposals will be put forward by the executive branch to be considered in the national preparation process. NTIA will work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who represents the civil spectrum community, and the State Department, to create the United States Preliminary Views and United States Proposals for the WRCs.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• ITU History
• ITU Structure
• ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R)
• WRC-23 Final Acts

Related International Organizations

• Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL)
• European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
• Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC)
• Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG)
• African Telecommunications Union (ATU)
• Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT)