The United States has spelled out its policy toward third-generation technology.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has said it supports principles outlined by the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), a consensus-led organization that represents telecommunications industry and government authorities from the 35 members of the Organization of American States.
On Sept. 18, the permanent Consultative Committee in CITEL responsible for Radio issues (PCC-III) endorsed principles relating to International Mobile Telecommunications-2000. The Clinton administration said the resolution is intended to guide CITEL member states in their participation in the IMT-2000 process.
The U.S government and CITEL believe the principles outlined should be taken into account as input to the International Telecommunication Union’s Task Group 8/1 for developing ITU recommendations for IMT-2000:
1. The ITU should develop IMT-2000 recommendations in such a way that they will include consideration of evolution of migration paths for pre-IMT-2000 systems so the negative impacts on existing customers’ functionality and service providers’ investment are mitigated.
2. To the extent possible, IMT-2000 technology and standards should be developed in a manner that is frequency-band independent.
3. The ITU should give consideration to radio transmission technologies that facilitate evolution from pre-IMT-2000 mobile communications systems operating in the Americas and around the globe. Critical IMT-2000 system characteristics such as security, ease of cell placing, services provided and performance must also be factors in consideration.
4. IMT-2000 recommendations and standards should include requirements for interfaces and protocols to facilitate roaming and service delivery between pre-IMT-2000 mobile (including cellular and personal communications services) communications and from IMT-2000 networks that may operate in the Americas and around the globe.
5. The ITU should encourage harmonization and consolidation of radio transmission technology proposals to the fullest extent possible.
6. The IMT-2000 radio interface(s) should, as far as possible, enable elements of pre-IMT-2000 infrastructure to be re-used.
7. The potential benefits of software-defined radio technologies are encouraging and should be thoroughly examined as the IMT-2000 recommendations are developed.
