An Arab group proposal on naming, numbering and addressing isn’t...

the World Conference on International Communications in December. Submissions on possible revisions to the International Telecommunication Regulations in December are being aired in the working group but have not been made to the conference. Many officials were concerned the proposal would address Internet matters, and talks in the meeting and in the corridors tried to ferret out the group’s intentions. The U.S. and Canada didn’t support the idea of an expanded ITU role in naming, numbering and addressing. The effects of regulatory changes on technical operations may not be obvious because of convergence of Internet and telecom markets, a submission from the Netherlands said. The submission addressed in general terms possible unintended side effects of regulatory changes, with specific examples dealing with spam, calling line identification, provisions against spoofing, and others. A “solid review of impact of new regulations on technical and business operations” is needed before agreement, in order to prevent unintended, possibly harmful consequences, it said. Sweden pressed for the inclusion of a minimum threshold number of countries that would have to ratify the modified treaty before it took effect. The matter will likely be addressed at the December conference. One official suggested 25 percent of ITU member countries would have to ratify the new treaty before it took effect. ITU has 193 member countries, its website said.