Cablegate: Request for Post to Identify Telecommunications

VZCZCXRO2420
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHC #7143/01 0551955
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241951Z FEB 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 3707
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0953
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 2862

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 017143

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECPS ECON
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR POST TO IDENTIFY TELECOMMUNICATIONS
POLICY OFFICERS

STATE 00017143 001.2 OF 002

1. Summary. This is an Action Cable. The State
Department has primary USG-wide authority for the
conduct of foreign policy with respect to communications
and information policy, and EEB's office of
International Communications and Information Policy
(CIP) is responsible for the formulation, coordination,
and oversight of that policy. From mobile phones, to
broadband to Internet governance, radio spectrum,
satellite navigation, and broadcast television, and
ranging from online child exploitation and
cybersecurity, to cloud computing and online privacy,
the issues that CIP handles are as dynamic as the
Internet and modern communications technologies
themselves. To support our efforts, CIP relies on each
Post to designate am economics officer as its
Telecommunications Policy Officers (TPO) who will work
with CIP to advance U.S. policy interests. CIP is
asking Posts to identify their TPO by cable to EEB/CIP
by March 10. End summary.

2. Both President Obama and Secretary Clinton have
voiced their strong support for the use of information
and communications technology (ICT) as both a driver of
economic development at home and abroad, and a means for
communicating and promoting U.S. values. U.S. companies
are world leaders in ICT, and ICT is expected to lead
the U.S. and world economies both in terms of innovation
and as an engine of productivity. New industries like
health IT and smart grids will create jobs and export
opportunities in the near and long term. Working with
our trading partners to increase these opportunities -
and making sure that new barriers to such trade are not
imposed -- is an important mission which the State
Department can support both in bilateral and
multilateral fora.

3. CIP advocates international policies for expanded
access to ICT, improved efficiency in the worldwide ICT
and telecommunications market through increased reliance
on free-market forces, and fair opportunities for U.S.
companies to participate in this important sector around
the globe. An efficient global ICT and
telecommunications structure creates a healthier
environment for U.S. companies doing business in all
sectors, improving the standard of living at home and
abroad. Under the leadership of the U.S. Coordinator
for International Communications and Information Policy,
Ambassador Philip L. Verveer, CIP has the responsibility
of fulfilling the Congressional mandate that the State
Department lead the coordination of international ICT
policy among the Federal Communications Commission, the
National Telecommunications and Information
Administration at the Department of Commerce, the U.S.
Trade Negotiator and other USG agencies.

4. The following is a brief overview of the CIP offices
and the scope of their activities:
- Multilateral Affairs (CIP/MA).
The Office of Multilateral Affairs represents the full
range of U.S. ICT and Telecom Policy interests in at
multilateral fora including the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Internet Governance
Forum (IGF), APEC, the Organization of American States
and the OECD. Among the issues which CIP/MA tackles are
questions of the allocation of radio spectrum in a world
ever more hungry for bandwidth, a broad range of
telecommunications and Internet-Protocol based standards
such as smart-grid technology and Next Generation
Networks, cybersecurity, and the maintenance of an open
and free Internet.

- Bilateral Affairs (CIP/BA).
The Office of Bilateral and Regional Affairs works with
bilateral and regional partners on issues such as market
access overseas for U.S. industry commercial interests,
cross-border coordination of radio, satellite and
telephone communications with Canada and Mexico, the
U.S. response to Google's allegations of cyber attacks
coming from China, and Internet freedom where CIP/BA
serves as EEB's lead for the Department's NetFreedom
Task Force. CIP/BA organizes bilateral ICT dialogues
and roundtables with key partners such as the European
Union, India, China, Mexico, Brazil and Russia. It
meets with U.S. industry and other stakeholders

STATE 00017143 002.2 OF 002

regarding market access issues, website take-downs, and
other disputes.

- Technology and Security Policy (CIP/TS)
The mission of the Office of Technology and Security
Policy is to promote U.S. national policies concerning
the protection if ICT services across cable, satellite
and cyber networks, while ensuring that evolving
technologies are considered during the development of
national technology policies. CIP/TS also works with
interagency and industry participants to defend
sensitive U.S. technologies and to promote greater
access to wireless communications worldwide.

5. CIP wants to hear from Posts regarding ICT and
telecommunications developments in host countries,
market-opening/liberalization actions, possible ICT-
related trade barriers, actions against U.S. ICT
companies, internet censorship, host country plans to
expand broadband, satellite, digital television, and
mobile phone access, the role of ICT in development,
moves to establish new ICT standards and to protect or
promote ICT innovation, and ways in which we can support
your Mission's ICT policy objectives. With your input
we will launch an online collaborative presence in the
coming months. Please visit our OpenNet site:
eeb.e.state.sbu/sites/cip/default.aspx, and our Internet
site: www.state.gov/e/eeb/cip, to learn more about CIP.

6. Action Requested: Each post is requested to
designate an officer who will serve as the Post's
contact on ICT issues. Please notify EEB/CIP by cable
with the name of the officer by March 10, 2010. Please
be sure to use the ECPS tag line for this and other
reporting on ICT issues. Post may contact EEB/CIP/BA:
Deborah Kanarek at kanarekdj@state.gov with any
questions.

7. Minimize considered.
CLINTON

© Scoop Media