This background paper is intended to provide the Internet Society community and interested parties with a general overview of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference and our perspectives on some of the main issues which may be discussed.
The International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 (Plenipot or PP-22) is the main decision-making body of the ITU. It provides overall strategic and financial guidance from an administrative, budgetary, and operational perspective. The Plenipotentiary is held every four years and will be held from 26 September to 14 October 2022 in Bucharest, Romania.
The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference is an international treaty conference where government delegations represented by Member States can negotiate changes to the two primary basic instruments of the Union: the Constitution and Convention (CS/CV). Delegations also adopt resolutions and decisions, which are not treaty-level agreements but provide direction for the work of the ITU. PP-22 will also approve the ITU budget and strategic plan, elect ITU leadership, and elect members to the ITU Council and Radio Regulations Board, among other actions.
While Internet-related Resolutions are expected to be revised at PP-22, no changes are expected to the CS/CV.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, three major ITU conferences are being held in 2022: The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC), and the Plenipotentiary. This has put a strain on resources and preparations for the three Conferences. Some proposals not adopted at WTSA and WTDC (e.g., use of telecommunications/ICT during pandemics) will be proposed to PP-22.
