itut-basics

# 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 - [references/a1-working-methods.md](references/a1-working-methods.md) -- detailed extract from Rec. ITU-T A.1 ## Cross-references - `itut-contributions` -- contribution submission, TDocs, liaison statements - `itut-recommendations` -- Recommendation structure, approval, amendments - `itut-drafting` -- ITU-T contribution .docx template and formatting - `itut-patents` -- patent policy, IPR disclosure, licensing declarations - `sdo-docx-formatting` -- formatting rules (delegated) - `sdo-project-setup` -- project bootstrap workflow