The technical representation of the Portuguese State in international sector bodies, the accompaniment of the activity of similar regulatory bodies and foreign experience in regulating communications, and the establishment of relations with other regulatory bodies such as, at technical level, community and international bodies, are matters wherein ICP-ANACOM acts by own right or by delegating powers (in such case, in close co-ordination with the ministry of tutelage, with the Foreign Ministry and with the telecommunications and postal operators, if necessary), initiating or accompanying, whenever necessary, the processes of transposing the fundamental instruments of some of those organisations into the internal legal order, under constitutionally applicable terms.
The international bodies that in 2002 required greater involvement by ICP-ANACOM were the European Union (EU), the Independent Regulators Group (IRG), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU). However, ICP-ANACOM is also involved with other bodies such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (ITSO), the International Mobile Satellite Organisation (IMSO), the European Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (EUTELSAT), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (UPAEP).
European Union
At European Union (EU) level, ICP-ANACOM?s activities concentrated on defending national sectorial interests, in close liaison with the national permanent representatives, in the approval process for the new regulatory framework for electronic communications (99 Review), which was concluded in 2002. This set up the necessary framework to respond to challenges associated to the phenomenon of convergence between telecommunications, the audiovisual and information technologies, encompassing the following fundamental measures:
- Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March, concerning a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (-Framework -Directive);
- Directive 2002/19/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March, concerning access and interconnection of electronic communications networks and services (-Access -Directive);
- Directive 2002/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March, concerning authorisation of electronic communications networks and services (-Authorisation -Directive);
- Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March, concerning universal service and user rights in matters of electronic communications networks and services (-Universal -Service -Directive);
- Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July, concerning the processing of personal data and privacy protection in the electronic communications sector;
- Decision 676/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002, concerning a regulatory framework for radio-frequency spectrum policy.
ICP-ANACOM also actively participated in the work of bodies resulting from the new regulatory framework: the European Regulators Group (ERG), in which issues related to the status of implementation of third generation mobile systems and the recommendation on relevant markets were studied; the Communications Committee (COCOM), which focused on measures related to development of the telecommunications sector and implementation of the new regulatory framework, specifically the proposed recommendation to the Commission vis-à-vis the provision of access in radio local networks (R-LANs), the procedures for implementation of Article 7 of the framework directive (consultation procedures) and implementation of standards and interoperability of digital television with regard to the new regulatory framework; and the Radio Spectrum Committee, which studied issues related to radio local networks (R-LANs), the ERMES system (pan-European paging service), as well as, in the context of community e-safety policy, the question of the phased introduction of automobile radars in the 24 GHz band.
In the postal area, ICP-ANACOM participated in negotiations on the proposed directive to modify the Postal Directive (97/67/EC), which culminated in the respective final approval by the Council of 7 Mary 2002 (Directive 2002/39/EC of 10 June 2002).
ICP-ANACOM?s involvement also extended to accompaniment of community programmes (the eTEN programme and the Promise programme) and other areas with sector-related implications such as public markets, trans-European networks, the information society and data protection, as well as the Community?s external relations in the context of national co-ordination assured by the Foreign Ministry.
Independent Regulators Group (IRG)
Implementation of the new European regulatory framework was also the main subject dealt with by ICP-ANACOM at the level of the Independent Regulators Group (IRG), particularly in the scope of the IRG?s comments in the EU?s public consultation on the proposed recommendation concerning relevant markets and products and in the contribution to the definition of mobile markets. However, ICP-ANACOM?s participation also extended to other issues, specifically discussion and application of technical aspects associated to unbundled local loop and to interconnection prices and conditions, and verification of the principle of price orientation to costs, keeping in mind the evolution of costing systems and the safeguard of user rights.
Also noteworthy is development and management of IRGIS (IRG Information Sharing), a project whose leadership was the responsibility of ICP-ANACOM and which consists of an integrated information system among all the national regulatory authorities (NRAs) included in the IRG, to foster updated sharing of information by electronic support and in real time.
International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
ICP-ANACOM?s involvement in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 2002 was particularly intense, and basically derived from two of the organisation?s most important conferences held that year: the World Telecommunications Development Conference (WTDC-02), top body of the Telecommunications Development Sector (ITU-D), in March, and the Plenipotentiary Conference (PP02), the Union?s supreme organ, in September/October.
At PP-02, Portugal was re-elected for a third consecutive term to the ITU Council, and was also elected to its presidency in its new composition during the opening session. It will hold that position until a successor is elected at the 2004 session. As the Council presidency, Portugal undertook various actions in 2002, particularly related to the structure and working methods of the various working groups that PP-02 mandated the Council to establish, including the creation of a specialists group to review the ITU?s management.
At WTDC-02 a new action plan for the sector was adopted ? the Istanbul Action Plan ? which aims to carry out technical co-operation projects, especially with less developed countries (LDCs).
ICP-ANACOM?s involvement in the ITU as a Member State is felt at the level of the main bodies (Plenipotentiary Conference, Council and high level events) and in the scope of the three Sectors in which the ITU?s functions are organised ? the Radiocommunications Sector (ITU-R), the Telecommunications Standardisation Sector (ITU-T) and the Telecommunications Development Sector (ITU-D) ? all comprising various bodies (conferences and/or assemblies, study groups, advisory groups).
At ITU-R level, ICP-ANACOM?s activity in 2002 basically concerned preparation of the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-03) to be held in June/July 2003 in Geneva, work mainly undertaken within the CPM (Conference Preparatory Meeting), where a consolidated report was drawn up on technical and operational questions and regulatory and procedural bases underlying the WRC-03 work agenda.
ICP-ANACOM was also involved in preparing for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to be held under United Nations auspices, with the ITU responsible for organisation.
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
Portugal?s CEPT presidency began on 1 October 2002 and will run through 30 September 2003. In this context, ICP-ANACOM undertook a number of measures, particularly co-operation with other regional organisations, which resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC), an organisation that groups Russia and 11 former Soviet republics from eastern Europe and central Asia, the development of a new CEPT website, publication of an institutional brochures to promote the organisation and actions to foster eventual co-ordination of candidates for posts in international organisations.
Even before the start of the presidency term, Portugal?s participation at the level of the organisation?s upper management was manifested throughout 2002 in the work achieved as vice-president, a position it held until 30 September.
ICP-ANACOM likewise maintained its habitual participation in CEPT?s activities at all levels, as the Portuguese administration, particularly in the work of the standing committees ? the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) and the European Committee for Postal Regulation (CERP) ? and respective working groups and project teams, as well as in the boards of administration of the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) and the European Telecommunications Office (ETO).
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
ICP-ANACOM?s participation in 2002 in the Universal Postal Union (UPU) was at the level of the groups, commissions and plenary sessions of the Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council, particularly in work regarding reform of the Union, which among other aspects aims for integration of all postal sector players, and for development and co-operation of the postal market, in order to ensure the provision of universal service and enhance its service quality. Noteworthy was the October 2002 participation in the UPU?s Strategy Conference, whose purpose was to gather postal market leaders at regulatory and operational level and allow participation by all interested parties in the sector to discuss possible postal sector strategies for the next decade.
