United States rejects International Telecommunications Union conference outcome, fearing interference with Internet freedom.

• Author: Crook, John R.

In December 2012, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) convened the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) in Dubai to update the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs). (1) As described by the ITU, the ITRs "serve as the binding global treaty designed to facilitate international interconnection and interoperability of information and communication services, as well as ensuring their efficiency and widespread public usefulness and availability." (2) A central focus of the WCIT was governance and control of the Internet. The conference failed to reach a generally acceptable outcome, with eighty-nine countries (China, Iran, Russia, and many developing countries) signing the final instruments, and fifty-five (the United States and many developed countries) not signing. (3)

Prior to the twelve-day conference, U.S. officials expressed concern that some countries would use it as a forum to seek greater governmental control over the Internet. (4) Officials, industry representatives, and Internet-freedom advocates pointed to proposals by Russia and China, supported by countries including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, calling for greater government control over Internet operation and governance. (5)

The United States participated actively in the conference, represented by a large delegation including many industry and civil society representatives. The proceedings highlighted sharp divisions between the United States and other largely Western countries fearful of inroads on Internet freedom, and others, notably China and Russia, seeking changes in Internet governance and increased governmental control. (6) In the end, the ITRs' revised text (7) includes several Internet-related provisions. A provision in Article 1 was understood by the United States to extend the instrument's reach to private Internet service providers. (8) Other provisions address security of Internet networks and spam. In addition, in the final days of the conference, the conference chair (9) brought to an informal vote a resolution supported by Russia and many other advocates of greater government control of the Internet innocently captioned "to foster an enabling environment for the greater growth of the internet." (10) The resolution provides, interalia, that

all governments should have an equal role and responsibility for international Internet governance and for ensuring the stability, security and continuity of...