THE ROLE OF THE ITU IN STANDARDIZATION - PRE-EMINENCE, IMPOTENCE OR RUBBER STAMP

This article argues that the historic preeminence of the ITU in setting international telecommunications standards is likely to be increasingly threatened by the regional standards organizations (RSOs) and by formal or informal coordination among the RSOs. The interests the RSOs represent are powerful enough that the ITU cannot ignore agreements among them, nor is it likely to be able to set standards if they cannot agree. At the same time their size, structure and procedures are likely to make them more effective at agreeing on standards than the ITU, despite the latter's attempts to improve its procedures.