CAPÍTULO 5. ANÁLISIS DE LOS MANUALES DE INSTRUCCIONES
5.2 Análisis de los manuales de instrucciones
NTIA advocates globally for foreign regulatory and policy regimes that encourage competition and innovation in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. NTlA promotes dialogue with private industry and nongovernmental organizations through sponsorship and participation in conferences, workshops, and other forums. On behalf of the federal government, NTIA coordinates usage of federal spectrum allocations, and it issues specific assignments for discrete uses by individual agencies. Through its laboratory at the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), NTIA also supports basic research in innovative telecommunications and information technologies (IT). This research has the potential to improve both the performance of telecommunications networks and the availability of digital content on the Internet.
In addition, ITS organizes and coordinates preparations for U.S. participation in international telecommunications conferences and standards development organizations, and negotiations in cooperation with other interested U.S. government agencies and industry groups. It develops and presents user-oriented technical contributions to national and international standards organizations addressing quality of service, communication network resource management, and other topics critical to the development and implementation of advanced IP-based networks, optical transport networks, next generation networks, and supporting broadband infrastructures.
s T R a T e G I e s T o a C h I e v e T h I s o b j e C T I v e
NTIA will pursue policies that promote U.S. exports in ICT products and services, promote consistent international approaches to telecommunications and Internet issues, harmonize key international standards while safeguarding competition, and improve relations with countries with rapidly expanding markets. All of these activities will require substantial coordination among NTIA’s program offices, across the Department, as well as via interagency coordination to develop the Administration’s positions.
The U.S. government participates in many different international forums in which global telecommunications and information policy is debated and developed. NTIA leads many U.S. delegations to these meetings and participates in others, and it provides the negotiators and full delegation with critical policy and technical expertise.
ITA’s work in increasing collaboration with other federal agencies to promote the adoption of U.S. standards around the world is discussed in Objective 9. Objective 2 describes the steps that USPTO is taking to provide leadership on international policies for improving the protection and enforcement of IPr worldwide.
k e Y C h a l l e n G e s
Achieving acceptance of U.S. positions and proposals at international and regional ICT meetings, bilateral meetings, and conferences remains a challenge for NTIA, as well as for the federal government as a whole. U.S. industry is seen, rightfully, as a world leader in the ICT sector. At times, this leadership in the marketplace translates into thought-leading influence in international policy-making forums. At other times, it translates into resistance.
e x T e R n a l f a C T o R s
Key external drivers include the White House, Congress, the telecommunications and Internet industries, and consumers. These domestic stakeholders, not surprisingly, frequently have different views on complicated issues (like spectrum management reform) requiring NTIA to carefully assess how to maximize the benefits of NTIA actions on domestic and international ICT issues.
p R o G R a m s C o n T R I b u T I n G T o T h I s o b j e C T I v e
By partnering with other Department bureaus, and by leveraging the expertise of its Office of Spectrum Management, Office of International Affairs, Office of Policy Analysis and Development, and ITS, NTIA is able to provide critical policy and technical analysis to U.S. negotiators and interagency delegations. NTlA also advises the executive branch on economic, policy, and technology developments important to the global ICT market environment. NTIA is the lead agency in the executive branch regarding management of the Internet’s domain names (DNS), a critical aspect of the Internet infrastructure.
Objective 4 describes efforts by the Department Office of the Secretary, using the expertise of NTIA, USPTO, NIST, and ITA, to create the Internet Policy Task Force. This task force will conduct a comprehensive view of the nexus between privacy policy, copyright, global free flow of information, cyber security, and innovation in the Internet economy.
NIST laboratories support development of a wide range of international standards that are essential to industries domestically and worldwide. NIST laboratory programs are discussed in Objective 5.
ITA supports the competitiveness of U.S. industry by using its network of trade specialists to share information on standards-related trade issues, engaging in international standardization work where there are public policy implications, and engaging in standardization activities in treaty organizations, as described in Objective 8.
p R o G R a m e v a l u a T I o n s
NTIA conducts periodic assessments by senior management executives to evaluate progress, and to develop and refine new program goals. These program goals are coordinated with the Secretary of Commerce and the White House to ensure that policy priorities are met within existing resources. Program evaluations determine whether existing resources are being assigned appropriately to the highest priority issues.
objeCTIve 11: develop and InfluenCe InTeRnaTIonal sTandaRds and polICIes To suppoRT The full and faIR CompeTITIveness of u.s. IndusTRY
buReau peRfoRmanCe measuRe
o b j e C T I v e 1 2