CEPT’s views on the Review of ITRs

Background

The International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) together with the Radio Regulations form the ITU’s Administrative Regulations which are binding on all Member States. Article 4 of the ITU Constitution (CS) describes the Administrative Regulations as complementary to the CS and Convention (CV) but that in the case of an inconsistency between the CS or the CV and the Administrative Regulations, the provisions of the CS or CV, as the case may be, prevail. The Administrative Regulations thus have treaty status albeit at a lower rank than the CS and CV. The ITRs can only be amended by a World Conference on Telecommunications (WCIT) which has to be convened by a Plenipotentiary Conference (Plenipot).

The current versions of the CS and CV entered into force in 1994 and have been amended at subsequent Plenipotentiary Conferences. There is relevant text, including definitions, in both the CS and CV which differs from the equivalent text in the ITRs. Accordingly in these cases, the provisions in the CS and CV prevail.

In accordance with Article 1 of the ITRs, the purpose and scope of the ITRs are to: