PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON INTER-AMERICAN SUMMITS MANAGEMENT

OEA/Ser.G CE/GCI-118/97
31 October 1997
Original: Spanish/English

SUMMARY OF CITEL FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES OF THE MIAMI SUMMIT
[Document presented by the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission, (CITEL)]

ORGANIZACION DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS
ORGANIZA��O DOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS
ORGANISATION DES ETATS AMERICAINS
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

October 22, 1997

Excellency:

As you requested at the meeting on October 9, we have enclosed a summary of the activities CITEL is pursuing to implement the 1994 Miami Summit's Plan of Action.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

Roberto Blois
Executive Secretary
CITEL

His Excellency
Ambassador Carlos Portales
Permanent Mission of Chile to the Organization of American States, Washington, D.C.

SUMMARY OF CITEL FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES OF THE MIAMI SUMMIT
[Document presented by the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission, (CITEL)]

Organization of American States
Inter-American Telecommunication Commission, CITEL

October 17, 1997

The Presidents recognized in this environment of change and transition the challenges of telecommunications in the development of the countries and Chapter 13 of the Miami Action Plan shows their conclusions and objectives.

Globalization has brought the awareness that telecommunication is not only an important industry in itself, but also the infrastructure upon which international trade is crucially dependent on. But to ensure that this could be attained much work and coordination is needed so as to pave the way for the introduction of modern telecommunication services in the region. This will eventually have the potential to dramatically transform work patterns, reduce costs and to enhance the efficiency of operations.

In particular, CITEL was asked by the Summit of the Americas to: in coordination with the sub-regional telecommunications organizations, develop and carry out a work program to:

--Evaluate regulatory, technical and legal means to promote liberalization, common standards, interoperability of networks and compatible use of the radio spectrum.

--Examine ways to promote greater consistency of the certification processes for
telecommunications equipment among member countries.

--Develop regional guidelines for the provision of international value-added network services.

And to:

Support a meeting by 1996, coordinated by CITEL, of Senior Telecommunications Officials to
conduct further discussions of the above actions.

Almost immediately CITEL reinforced some program areas to support the objectives of the Summit.

Accomplishments

In collaboration with the ITU, CITEL prepared a report on Recommendations on Telecommunication Policies for the Countries of the Americas, commonly referred to as the "Bluebook".

The Legal Working Group of CITEL is currently actively involved in a project to define the differences in the Administrative Procedures employed in member countries.

CITEL has prepared and approved Guidelines on Value Added Services in the Americas and is currently working on a new Inter-American Convention on the implementation of these guidelines.

CITEL has also prepared and adopted guidelines covering a more uniform implementation of telecommunication equipment certification procedures in member countries. Work is continuing on implementation of the guidelines with the long range objective of harmonization of the certification procedures throughout the Americas. An important aspect of this work involves encouraging the member countries to give serious consideration to the ITU sponsored Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Global Mobile Personal Communications Service (GMPCS).

CITEL has instituted an Ad Hoc Group to study alternative methods of establishing International Accounting Rates for Telecommunication Services.

A meeting of Senior Telecommunication Officials, was organized by CITEL on September 25 - 26,1996 in Washington DC, USA. During the said meeting a declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action were adopted to insure that the telecommunications sector is supportive of the objectives of this Summit of Americas.

As has been the practice so as not to duplicate efforts, CITEL has established a closer coordination with other regional organizations such as AHCIET, Asociaci�n Hispanoamericana de Centros de Investigaci�n y Empresas de Telecomunicaciones, the CTU and the International Telecommunication Union preparing common activities.

As the strength in the International meetings is shown by numbers, member countries have just agreed in more than 40 common proposals to take to the World Radiocommunication Conference of 1997 of the International Telecommunication Union. This demonstrates the growing unity of the region. The most important items to be considered at this meeting are: Simplification of the Radio Regulations, Additional Allocations to the Mobile Satellite Service Frequency, Allocations for Space Science Applications, review of the ITU's Frequency Coordination and Planning Framework for Satellite Networks.

CITEL prepared Standard Coordination documents that will help on the implementation of new technologies in the region taking advantage of economies of scale. The documents prepared were: 2 Ghz Personal Communications Services (PCS), Signaling System Nr. 7 (SS7), Narrowband Integrated Services digital networks and Intelligent Network. These Coordinated Standard documents are the basis for the harmonization of services and networks providing the means to attain economy of scale and interoperability.

In addition, CITEL is compiling information for a database on frequency usage in the region in collaboration with the ITU. This database will be invaluable for the multilateral agreements on the allocation and management of frequency spectrum and the introduction of new services.

CITEL has also established a program for the implementation of the Global Information Infrastructure in the Americas to expand telecommunications to rural and remote areas in developing countries, and reinforced the activities of many of its working Groups as for example Basic telecommunication services and modernization of networks.

Resources

The activities of CITEL were impacted by the lack of financial resources, we had to adjust our schedule, create new programs, cancel meetings and change priorities in order to be responsive to the directives of the Miami Summit. For example we had to cancel some meetings so as to transfer the financial resources for holding the meeting of Senior Telecommunication Officials.

In the future it would be very important that for any action requested by the Summit we may count on the corresponding necessary funding.

Santiago Summit Activities

In response to a request from the coordinator for the Santiago Summit Activity, the Chairman of COM/CITEL, after having consulted with the member countries, has suggested to the coordinator items for inclusion in the action plan for the Santiago Summit. Emphasis was placed on further efforts to harmonize the certification processes and on the implementation of the Global Information Infrastructure throughout the Americas.

APPENDICES:

I. Declaration of Principles. Senior Telecommunication Officials Meeting, September 25 - 26,
1996.

II. Plan of Action for the Americas (Telecommunications). Senior Telecommunication
Officials Meeting, September 25 - 26, 1996.

III. Letter with the first proposal of CITEL for the Action Plan of Santiago.

APPENDIX I
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES

The Senior Telecommunication Officials, meeting in Washington D.C. on September 25 and 26, pursuant to the mandate of the Summit of the Americas:

CONSIDERING:

That the convergence of telecommunications with computer technology makes it possible to access, transmit and receive any kind of information - voice, text, data, image and sound.

That new technologies make it possible to provide access to telecommunications and information resources at any time, and in any place.

That telecommunications and electronic information are playing an increasing role in economic, social, cultural and political development in all countries.

BEARING IN MIND:

That the Declaration from the ITU American Regional Telecommunication Development Conference, held in Acapulco in 1992, states that telecommunications is an essential tool for socio-economic development and contributes to Regional economic and cultural integration.

That in the Declaration from the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference, held in Buenos Aires in 1994, states that telecommunications fuels the global information society and economy, which is rapidly transforming local, national and international life and despite physical boundaries is promoting better understanding among peoples.

That in the G7 Conference on the Global Information Society, held in February 1995, the G7 partners committed themselves to pursue the interconnectivity of networks and the interoperability of services as a means to implement the Global Information Society through the promotion of a consensus standardization process that is market led and that encourages better understanding among peoples.

That the South Africa Information Society and Development Conference, held in May 1996, at which the participants committed themselves to continue or begin a process of national information planning in each of the representative countries, is in conformity with the development of a Global Information Society.

That at the meeting of the Global Information Infrastructure Society (GIIS) convened by the private sector and held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 13, 1996, they confirmed their interest in participating more actively in this process and identified from their own standpoint the main pillars of the Global Information Society and their recommendations for development of the infrastructures for telecommunications and information in the American hemisphere.

That the Trade Ministers of the Americas have established a specific group to consider issues affecting the Smaller Economies of the Hemisphere.

That the development of multilateral principles and decisions by the World Trade Organization on telecommunications has underscored the key role of telecommunications in expanding trade in services and improving trade efficiency in other sectors.

NOTING:

The initiatives undertaken by national governments of the Region to develop telecommunications and information infrastructures and to prepare their peoples for the global information society.

RECALLING:

The objectives of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), and the provisions of its Strategic Plan, 1995-99.

RECOGNIZING:

That at the Summit of the Americas, held from December 9-11, 1994, the Heads of State recognized that "a country's information infrastructure--telecommunications, information technology, and broadcasting--is an essential component of political, economic, social and cultural development" and that " the information infrastructure development needs in the Americas are immense."

RECOGNIZING ALSO:

That, in conformity with the Plan of Action adopted by the Summit of the Americas, the governments of the Region intend to engage in multiple actions, where consistent with their respective governing laws, inter alia.:

Undertake discussions at the international level in order to encourage private sector investment to increase participation in the telecommunications and information infrastructure sectors; promote competition; implement flexible regulatory regimes; stimulate diversity of content, including cultural and linguistic diversity; provide access to information networks for service and information providers; and ensure universal service.

Undertake efforts to make government information more publicly available via electronic means.

Review the availability and interoperability of connections to international networks that facilitate trade, improve education and increase access to health care.

Encourage all universities, libraries, hospitals and government agencies to have access to these networks.

Support the conclusion of the negotiation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) no later than 2005, and make concrete progress toward that objective by the end of this century.

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT:

The initiatives and achievements of CITEL in developing and carrying out a work programme, pursuant to the directives from the Summit of the Americas in, inter alia, the evaluation of the regulatory, technical and legal means to promote common standards, interoperability of networks and compatible use of the radio spectrum; in the examination of ways to promote greater consistency of the certification processes for telecommunications equipment among member countries; and in the development of Regional guidelines for the provision of international value-added network services.

That CITEL, in the implementation of its work programmes, should maintain awareness of activities being undertaken in the appropriate working group of the FTAA.

That the private sector is playing an increasingly important role in the development of telecommunications in the Region.

That a growing number of countries in the Region are engaged in the adoption of telecommunications regimes based on market mechanisms and on the development of instruments for the encouragement of private investment.

The need to make telecommunications services available to all socio-economic strata, and especially to those with the lowest incomes.

DECLARE:

1. That in order to realize the benefits of an information-based economy and society, it is necessary to focus on well-defined, coordinated actions, many of which can be facilitated through programmes initiated through CITEL in coordination with other Regional and international organizations related to telecommunications development; to this end, an adequate level of access to telecommunications services and networks should be considered a basic objective of governments in the Region.

2. That the specific challenges of the Smaller Economies of the Hemisphere should be taken into account in the implementation of the objectives of the Declaration and in the provision of appropriate programmes related to the establishment of resource capabilities.

3. That government and private sector entities in the Region should be encouraged to adopt open interoperable standards for the Regional telecommunications infrastructure.

4. That the development of partnership strategies between government and private sectors should be promoted to accelerate the process of conversion to electronic commerce.

5. That the protection of private data and intellectual property should be highlighted as a key point in society and the economy, whose development is based on information.

6. That information and communications technology initiatives need to be launched to support natural resource development, environmental protection and emergency telecommunications.

7. That efforts should be expanded to extend the benefits of an information society to stimulate diversity of content, including linguistic and cultural diversity, and to applications in health, education, electronic publishing and electronic libraries.

8. That the adoption of measures should be promoted that facilitate the implementation of the CITEL guidelines for value-added services, the equipment certification and the Coordinated Standards Documents issued by that Commission.

9. That encouragement should be given to the development of specific measures conducive to the wide-spread use of telecommunications services, informatics and interactive audiovisual media throughout the hemisphere.

10. That the use of advanced telecommunications technologies should be promoted as appropriate.

11. That appropriate activities and programmes should be developed by CITEL in coordination and cooperation with Regional Telecommunication Organizations (RTOs) particularly those from the Americas Region, as well as with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU):

--To follow up initiatives undertaken to assist countries of the Americas Region in facing the
many challenges encountered in reforming the telecommunication sector, as highlighted in the
document "Telecommunication Policies for the Americas".

--To promote the strengthening of the telecommunication networks and services in the
Americas Region and to achieve the availability of services to users with a diversity and
density adequate to the demand in both urban and rural areas.
 
--To encourage and promote the creation of radiocommunications in the Region, operating with
modern technologies and without generating interference that goes beyond the countries’
borders, thus being useful to the wide range of radiocommunication users.

12. That this Declaration is unanimously approved by the representatives of the countries participating in the Senior Telecommunication Officials Meeting, 25-26 September, 1996.

APPENDIX II
PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE AMERICAS
(Telecommunications)

1. INTRODUCTION

During the last ten years, the debate on the importance of telecommunications to improving quality of life has made clear that telecommunications is more than simply a technology. Telecommunications has become an even more important issue since the initiative to establish a hemisphere-wide free trade zone by the first decade of the 21st century began to take shape. The essential role of telecommunications to any economic, social-cultural or political proposal that is initiated on a national, or in this case, hemispheric, level cannot be denied.

Major development declarations, including the ITU Maitland Report of 1984, the ITU Declaration of Acapulco of 1992, the ITU Declaration of Buenos Aires of 1994, as well as the 1994 Declaration and Plan of Action of the Summit of the Americas, make clear the growing importance of telecommunications. The Declaration and Plan of Action of the Summit of the Americas, given its political importance, provides the general mandate to develop this Plan of Action for the telecommunications sector in the Americas.

This Plan of Action recognizes that in the Americas there are different levels of economic development in the countries in the region and that these differences are substantial. These differences also manifest themselves in the telecommunications sector and should be progressively reduced so that the participation of all countries in the future Free Trade Area of the Americas be beneficial.

2. VISION OF THE SECTOR

We share a common vision of telecommunications, informatics, and audiovisual media for all, anywhere, at any time.

3. STRATEGIC MISSION OF THE SECTOR

Taking into account the Declaration of the Senior Telecommunication Officials Meeting, we also share a common strategic mission of promoting economic development, hemispheric integration, and modernization of the telecommunications infrastructure of the region by:

3.1. Meeting communication and information needs under equitably conditions and at
reasonable cost;

3.2. Using appropriate technologies;

3.3. Developing an environment of fair competition; and

3.4. Encouraging participation by a broad spectrum of groups in the decision-making process.

4. OVERALL OBJECTIVES FOR THE SECTOR

Implementation of the overall objectives and related undertakings in this Plan of Action will be conditioned by the national law, development priorities, and interests of each country.

In this setting the Senior Telecommunication Officials will endeavor to:

4.1. Promote measures to meet in a timely manner the demand for all telecommunications
services at reasonable rates, and seek universal access and service;

4.2. Put in place flexible regulatory frameworks that can easily adapt to rapid change in
technology and innovation in telecommunications markets and that facilitate implementation of
the Global Information Infrastructure;

4.3. Support training of human resources for the sector;

4.4. Develop a legal framework to protect the rights of users;

4.5. Encourage the use of telecommunications to support education and health care;

4.6. Seek efficient use of the radio spectrum;

4.7. Encourage fair competition among providers of services and interconnection, according to
the principles of transparency and nondiscrimination;

4.8. Promote common positions among CITEL countries for world conferences;

4.9. Promote the use of telecommunications to preserve human life and for public safety in case
of emergencies and natural disasters; and

4.10. Promote regional coordination in the areas of value-added services, equipment
certification, and coordination of standards.

5. PLAN OF ACTION

5.1. Promote measures to meet in a timely manner the demand for all telecommunications
services at reasonable rates, and seek universal access and service.

Commitments

The telecommunication authorities undertake to seek to:

i. Promote the establishment of mechanisms for increasing telephone service density and
coverage in rural areas and for low-income groups.

ii. Devise specific policies concerning rural telecommunications, such as investment, subsidies
and the use of market mechanisms or other applicable national models.

iii. Promote access to the global information network.

iv. Seek the adoption of regulatory frameworks that increase the availability of all services and
universal service.

v. Promote the use of wireless services in rural and remote areas.

vi. Examine the introduction of new global satellite services and urge national regulatory
authorities to give special attention to the results of world telecommunications policy fora on
this subject.

5.2. Put in place flexible regulatory frameworks that can easily adapt to rapid change and
innovation in telecommunications markets and technology and that facilitate their
implementation of the Global Information Infrastructure.

Commitments

The telecommunications authorities undertake to seek to:

i. Promote among telecommunications and cable television operators, insofar as the relevant
legal regulatory framework allows, the installation of network systems using the latest
technology, and ensure its operability.

ii. Encourage national meetings that include the administration, the private sector, and other governmental and nongovernmental institutions, to expedite the start-up of networks using the latest technology in those countries.

iii. Seek adoption, in countries that are transitioning to market-based, customer-focused
telecommunications regimes, of flexible regulatory frameworks that promote innovation, encourage private sector investment and foster competition and universal service.

5.3. Support training of human resources for the sector.

Commitments

The telecommunications authorities undertake to seek to:

--Encourage operators, the academic sector, and other official institutions to establish programs for training human resources in the sector.

5.4. Develop a framework to protect the rights of users;

Commitments

The telecommunications authorities undertake to seek to:

i. implement user protection mechanisms.

ii. use appropriate mechanisms to make the benefits of the information infrastructure accessible to the population.

iii. promote means, where appropriate, for broad public participation in issues in the telecommunications sector.

5.5. Encourage the use of telecommunications to support education and health care.

Commitments:

The telecommunications authorities undertake to seek to:

i. Encourage educational and health institutions to install suitable telecommunications and informatics infrastructure, especially in institutions located in rural areas and low-income communities.

ii. Promote the use of more advanced technologies (satellites, fiber optics, DTH, radio, etc.) for distribution and interaction with educational and health products.

iii. Cooperate in the development and exchange of viable tele-education and tele-medicine programs.

iv. Promote installation of networks and systems that provide by electronic means interaction between citizens and Government and, internally, among state agencies at the various levels.

5.6. Seek efficient use of the radio spectrum

Commitments:

The telecommunications authorities undertake to seek to:

Promote application of the latest technologies and harmonization of the use of the radio
spectrum at the hemispheric level.

5.7. Encourage fair competition among providers of services and interconnections, according to
the principles of transparency and nondiscrimination.

Commitments:The telecommunications authorities when developing national policies undertake progressively to:

i. Promote flexible regulatory frameworks that allow such competition and regulate in an impartial manner matters related to interconnection and, where applicable, numbering plans.

ii. Promote policies that include interconnection safeguards, cost-oriented rates, equitable access charges and account settlement rates that stimulate demand for telecommunications services and foster competition.

iii. Share, when appropriate information and views on accounting rates. Work together, when appropriate on issues relating to the movement of accounting rates towards costs in a spirit of mutual respect between parties.

5.8. Promote common positions among CITEL countries for world conferences.

Commitments:

The telecommunications authorities undertake to seek to:

Develop common positions, as appropriate, among the countries of the region in advance of important international meetings held under the auspices of the ITU, including the World Telecommunications Policy Forum, WRC-97, and the World Telecommunication Development Conference.

5.9. Promote the use of telecommunications to preserve human life and for public safety in case of emergency or natural disasters.

Commitments:

The telecommunications authorities undertake to seek to:

Establish mechanisms for emergency telecommunications in the Americas, pursuant to Resolution 36 of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (1994, Kyoto) and the subsequent Council decisions in support of the negotiations of an International Convention on Disaster Communications.

5.10. Promote regional coordination in the areas of value-added services, equipment certification, and coordination of standards.

Commitments:

The telecommunications authorities undertake to seek to:

i. Approve the CITEL guidelines on value-added services, equipment certification processes, and promote coordination of standards.

ii. Promote the adoption of specific measures to implement the principles set forth in the aforementioned guidelines.

iii. Promote value-added services to encourage investment and trade in these services.

iv. Promote and strengthen relations between CITEL and regional and subregional telecommunication organizations in the Americas, in particular to achieve regional coordination in the areas of value-added services, equipment certification and standard coordination.

v. Recommend that the countries of the region examine the possibility of developing regional, subregional or bilateral agreements on value-added services and mutual recognition agreements on equipment certification.

6. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN

The guidelines set forth in this Plan of Action will guide the pursuit of the stated objectives on the basis of joint efforts by the public and private sectors in the OAS member states.

CITEL is requested to examine and consider this Plan of Action with a view to its follow-up and implementation to help fulfill its objectives and commitments.

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
Inter-American Telecommunication Commission

October 2, 1997

The Honorable Juan Martabit:

Your letter asking for inputs to the action plan that will come out of the Santiago Summit was very much appreciated. CITEL is very pleased to provide you with some proposals for your consideration. In order to respond to your request, a review was conducted of section 13 on Telecommunications from the Action Plan from the 1994 Miami Summit. This review also included examining the actions that have been initiated as a consequence of the meeting and scrutinizing the results obtained to date.

Your letter could not have arrived at a more opportune time, because shortly after your letter arrived there was a meeting of the CITEL Steering Committee scheduled for August 12, 1997 and your letter was discussed and the Committee decided to solicit inputs from all member countries. The responses have been compiled and the results included here for your consideration.

In formulating a reply to your letter, particular emphasis has been attached to the importance and appropriateness of the decisions made at the Miami Summit in 1994 and the 1996 meeting of Senior Telecommunication Officials. With this in mind, section 13 was edited and the results are shown in the attachment to this letter. This document is also being sent to all the member countries for their review and if it is necessary a revised version will be sent to you in the near future.

If you should need any additional information or further explanation, please don't hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,

Ernesto Dehl
Chairman, Permanent Executive Committee of CITEL

Ambassador Juan Martabit
General Coordinator of Preparations for the Second Summit of the Americas
Ministry of External Affairs, Santiago, Chile

Note: The following is a modified versions of the telecommunications section of the Action Plan from the 1994 Miami Summit of the Americas. New text that has been added is in italics and text to be deleted is shown as crossed.

Excerpt from the Action Plan of the 1994 Miami Summit

13. Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure

A country's information infrastructure—telecommunications, information technology, and broadcasting—is an essential component of political, economic, social, and cultural development. The information infrastructure development needs in the Americas are immense. The governments of the Americas intend to meet these needs by engaging in multiple actions, where consistent with their respective governing laws, such as: encouraging private sector investment to increase participation in the telecommunications and information infrastructure sectors; promoting competition; implementing flexible regulatory regimes; stimulation diversity of content, including cultural and linguistic diversity; providing access to information networks for service and information providers; and ensuring universal service, so that the benefits of the information infrastructure will be available to all members of our societies.

Governments will:

-- Engage in ongoing discussions at the international level of actions referred to above and endeavor to take those actions in their own countries, taking account of domestic conditions and circumstances.

-- Undertake efforts to make government information more publicly available via electronic means.

-- Review the availability and interoperability of connections to international networks that facilitate trade, take action to enhance INTERNET connectivity, to promote commerce, improve education and improve access to health care.

-- Encourage major universities, libraries, hospitals, and government agencies to have access to INTERNET to these networks, building on the work of the OAS Hemisphere-Wide Inter-University Scientific and Technological Information Network.

Via the OAS Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), and in coordination with the sub-regional telecommunications organizations, continue to develop and carry out a work program consistent with the Declaration and Action Plan adopted by the 1996 Senior Telecommunication Official Meeting to:

-- Evaluate regulatory, technical and legal means to promote liberalization, common standards, interoperability of networks and compatible use of the radio spectrum.

-- Continue to examine ways to promote greater consistency of the certification processes for telecommunications equipment among member countries.

-- Promote the development of a Global Information Infrastructure (GII) for the benefit of all the people of the Americas by:

-- Preparing recommendations with the objective to improve the telecommunications and information infrastructures by:

-- Encouraging alliances and partnership with the private sector and relevant regional and international organizations to establish policies and programs for further development and enhancement of the region's telecommunication and information infrastructure.

-- Developing consistent and transparent telecommunications policies with regard to INTERNET and interconnection of networks throughout the region of the Americas for the consideration of member states.

-- Developing INTERNET applications such as electronic commerce, distance learning, telemedicine, etc.

-- Develop Implementing the regional guidelines for the provision of international value-added network services.

Encourage CITEL to call an Extraordinary meeting of its Assembly in 1998 for the purpose of reviewing the progress made regarding the objectives identified in the action plan of the second Summit of the Americas, set objectives and agree upon work plans for the future. Invitations to participate in this Extraordinary session of the CITEL Assembly should be extended to the private sector on an exceptional basis.

Support a meeting in the year 2000 by 1996, coordinated by CITEL, of senior telecommunications officials (STO) to conduct further discussions of the above actions, review progress on SOA (Summit of the Americas) action items, set objectives, and agree upon work plans. The meetings (STO) will be hosted by SOA countries on a rotating basis.

REPUBLIC OF CHILE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
General Coordination Office

Second Summit of the Americas
URGENT

Santiago, Chile

July 29, 1997

Mr. Ernesto Delh Sosa
Chair of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL)
Washington, D.C., United States

Dear Mr. Sosa:

I am pleased to write to you regarding the Second Summit of the Americas, to be held in Chile on April 18 and 19, 1998.

In that regard, it should be noted that, on July 1, the foreign ministers of the countries of the Hemisphere approved the agenda for the Summit Plan of Action, a copy of which is enclosed.

Since then efforts have been under way to elaborate on the agenda. In doing so, it was decided to present specific proposals, which could be implemented in the medium term, i.e. two to three years, with periodic monitoring.

As you can see, some of the initiatives on the agenda are closely linked to the activities of the body which you chair.

Consequently, if you deem it appropriate, I would appreciate it if you could examine the agenda and send your comments to this office for appropriate distribution.

It should be recalled, in this regard, that Chile has assumed the role of coordinator for the subject of telecommunications at the Summit of the Americas.

I am confident that your organization's initiatives will help improve the agenda and that the Hemisphere's governments will give them careful consideration them properly in defining the Plan of Action for the Summit of the Americas,.

Sincerely,

Juan Martabit
Ambassador,
Coordinator-General

AGENDA FOR THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS
SANTIAGO, CHILE

I. Education

— To determine measures, as proposed by the coordinators, for the Plan of Action prepared on this subject

— Additional measures, such as an academic student-exchange program, a distance-learning program, and the incorporation of new technologies

— Measures to prepare basic and advanced job-training programs, in order to effectively cope with the changes resulting from the application and development of new technologies. Special attention should be given to adult training programs.

II. Preservation and Strengthening of Democracy and Human Rights

— To formulate measures based on the efforts of the coordinators responsible for this area

— Measures in the area of education for democracy and full respect for human rights

— Measures to increase participation by civil society

— Measures to ensure protection of the human rights of all migrant workers and their families

— Measures to strengthen decentralized administrations

— Measures to strengthen hemispheric discussions to combat corruption, drug trafficking, and terrorism

— Measures in the area of confidence- and security-building measures among states

— Measures to strengthen the judicial system

— Measures to support the state modernization projects undertaken by the countries of the Hemisphere in the administration of labor matters in accordance with each country's requirements and legislation

III. Economic Integration and Free Trade

— Measures relating to negotiation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), on keeping with the progress made in the area by the competent ministers

— Measures regarding capital markets to be determined after the Meeting of Ministers of Finance in December

— Measures to promote cooperation in science and technology

— Measures to promote regional cooperation in energy

— Measures to develop an adequate hemispheric infrastructure, particularly in the area of transportation and telecommunications

— Proposal by the Meeting of Ministers of Transportation of the Hemisphere to include the Western Hemisphere Transportation Initiative (ITHO) on the agenda of the Summit of the Americas

IV. Eradication of Poverty and Discrimination

— Measures to support micro-, small-, and medium-sized businesses so as to promote job creation through access to credit, the formulation of job-training projects, programs to increase productivity, and the introduction and application of new and more advanced technologies

— These initiatives may all be seen as having an education component.

— Measures to implement or update effective land registry systems in those countries requiring such assistance

— Health-related measures, as proposed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

— Measures pursuant to the decisions taken at the recent Women's Meeting in Managua, including a specific program on education

— Measures on the national level to secure good jobs and to protect the essential rights and interests of workers, so as to promote the observance of the relevant ILO conventions

— Measures to promote greater participation by the indigenous populations through adequate access to education, health, and job training

— Measures to fight hunger and malnutrition

VI. Sustainable Development

Given the broad scope of the Plan of Action of Santa Cruz de la Sierra adopted by the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development, it is suggested that this item be included in the political declaration to be signed by the heads of state and government, with reference made therein to the progress in this area as noted by the OAS Secretary General in his written report and to mention the agreements reached on specific relevant activities.

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