BRAZIL - DEMARCHE ON ITU/WTSA VETO ISSUE

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000072

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 4332/ITA/MAC/WH/OLAC/JANDERSEN/ADRISCOLL/MWAR D
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USCS/OIO/WH/RD/DDEVITO/DANDERSON/EOL SON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ECPS ECON PGOV BR ITU
SUBJECT: BRAZIL - DEMARCHE ON ITU/WTSA VETO ISSUE

REF: 04 SECSTATE 264222


1. In a January 5 meeting, EconOffs made reftel points to
Luis Fernando Serra and Bruno Carvalho Ramos of ANATEL
(Brazil's Telecommunications Regulatory Agency and the
entity here responsible for ITU issues). Serra is the Head
of the Office of International Affairs and a career
diplomat. Ramos, an engineer by profession, is the Mobile
Communications Standards Manager and ANATEL's lead on ITU.
Serra and Ramos said the GoB had supported the USG during
the November 2004 World Telecommunications Standardization
Assembly (WTSA) in Florianopolis and continues to be
aligned with the USG on the veto issue. Although ANATEL
was disappointed with the results, Ramos saw little ground
to overturn the decision, since, in his assessment, the
Assembly has the authority to make this type of decision.
Whether or not the decision could be reviewed by the
Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) or
the ITU Counsel was a matter that would require study.
ANATEL did not think the change would have any real impact
on the day-to-day work of the ITU, but would be concerned
if it was applied in some other way. Ramos and Serra
nevertheless expressed support for USG plans to raise the
veto issue at both the TSAG meeting in March 2005 and the
ITU Counsel meeting in July 2005. Serra and Ramos further
suggested that the USG initiate a discussion with the
Executive Committee of the Inter-American Telecommunication
Commission (CITEL) so that a consensus position or proposal
could be moved forward.


2. In an aside, Ramos told EconOffs the GoB considered the
Florianopolis WTSA a success, especially in comparison with
the 2002 meeting in Morocco, although more concrete
progress could have been made.

DANILOVICH