Media Center

Press Release

OAS Telecommunications Commission to Debate on Broadcasting in Bucaramanga

The Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) of the Organization of American States (OAS) today opened the nineteenth meeting of its Permanent Consultative Committee in the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia, where experts from the Member States of the Organization and the private sector will discuss a broad agenda of issues related to radiocommunications, broadcasting and digital television.

In addition to experts from the public and private sector, representatives from international and regional telecommunications organizations will also attend the meeting and review matters such as the technical and regulatory aspects related to terrestrial fixed and mobile radiocommunication services; satellite systems to provide fixed and mobile services; broadcasting; digital dividend spectrum resulting from the transition to digital television and opportunities for convergent applications, and the technical and regulatory aspects regarding the effects of electromagnetic eon-ionizing emissions on human health.

The Committee is chaired by Diego Molano Vega, Colombia’s Minister of Information Technologies and Communications, and its main purpose is to continue promoting the planning, coordination, harmonization and efficient use of radio spectrum to facilitate the expansion of the geographic and social development of telecommunications and the Internet throughout the Americas.

The meeting will also discuss the results of the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference, at which CITEL presented more than 220 inter-American proposals and high-priority resolutions were adopted on mobile broadband, amateur radio service, as well as various aspects of satellite systems regulation.

Moreover, bearing in mind the need to be well cognizant of the changes incorporated to the World Radiocommunication Regulations for satellite systems issues, the agenda for tomorrow, Tuesday, July 3, will feature the "Seminar on the Results of the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference and Future Matters related to Satellite."

Experts from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will participate in that seminar and will discuss various matters of priority for the region, such as the analysis of possible regulatory changes to fixed satellite services, earth exploration satellite, and satellite broadcasting services.

The event will conclude on Friday, July 6, by which time the work plan, the draft agenda, date and venue of the next meeting of CITEL’s Consultative Permanent Committee are expected to be agreed upon.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org

Reference: E-242/12