ITU-T Basics
Overview
ITU-T (ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector) is a permanent organ
of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It is responsible for
studying technical, operating and tariff questions and issuing Recommendations
to standardize telecommunications worldwide.
Organizational structure
| Body |
Role |
| WTSA (World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly) |
Meets every 4 years; establishes study topics and mandates |
| TSAG (Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group) |
Advises on priorities, coordination, work programme between WTSAs |
| TSB (Telecommunication Standardization Bureau) |
Secretariat: circulates documents, organizes meetings, publishes Recommendations |
| Study Groups (SG) |
Core technical bodies; approve Recommendations; manage work programmes |
| Working Parties (WP) |
Subsets of study groups handling specific Questions or spec maintenance |
| Rapporteur Groups |
Appointed experts coordinating detailed study of individual Questions |
| Focus Groups (FG) |
Forward-looking; non-member participation; do not write Recommendations |
| Joint Coordination Activities (JCA) |
Cross-study-group coordination; do not perform technical studies |
| Intersector Rapporteur Groups (IRG) |
Coordinate between ITU sectors (ITU-T, ITU-R, ITU-D) |
Key terminology
| Term |
Definition |
| Question |
Description of an area of work to be studied, normally leading to new or revised Recommendations |
| Work item |
Assigned piece of work identifiable with a Question |
| Work programme |
List of work items owned by a study group |
| Recommendation |
The normative output; approved via TAP or AAP |
| Amendment |
Changes or additions to an already published Recommendation |
| Corrigendum |
Corrections to a published Recommendation (same approval as amendment) |
| Erratum |
Correction of publication/editorial errors; published by TSB with Chairman concurrence |
| Annex |
Integral material necessary for completeness; same approval as the Recommendation |
| Appendix |
Supplementary material not essential for completeness; agreed by study group only |
| Normative reference |
External document whose provisions, through reference, become provisions of the referring document |
| Clause |
Single-digit or multiple-digit numbered text passages |
Roles
| Role |
Responsibilities |
| Study Group Chairman |
Establishes work structure, selects WP chairmen, directs meetings, promotion |
| Rapporteur |
Coordinates detailed study of a Question; holds rapporteur group meetings; submits progress reports and draft Recommendations as TDs |
| Editor |
Assists rapporteur in preparing text of draft Recommendations |
| Associate Rapporteur |
Assists rapporteur generally or with a particular study area |
| Liaison Rapporteur |
Ensures liaison with other groups by attending meetings or correspondence |
Meeting procedures (summary)
- Meetings require TSB Director approval
- Timetable published at least 1 year in advance
- Collective letter (agenda + work plan) sent ~2 months before meeting
- Participants register at least 1 month before
- Meeting may be cancelled if insufficient contributions received
- IPR declaration is requested at each meeting
- Rapporteur meetings: convening letter >= 2 months before; report as TD to parent group
References
Cross-references
itut-contributions -- contribution submission, TDocs, liaison statementsitut-recommendations -- Recommendation structure, approval, amendmentsitut-drafting -- ITU-T contribution .docx template and formattingitut-patents -- patent policy, IPR disclosure, licensing declarationssdo-docx-formatting -- formatting rules (delegated)sdo-project-setup -- project bootstrap workflow
