David Gross Discusses Upcoming WCIT Conference with Digital Trends

Ambassador David A. Gross, chair of Wiley Rein’s International Telecommunications Group, was interviewed by Digital Trends on the international proposals being considered that would give member states of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) more regulatory power over the global Internet.

Digital Trends reported that “countries around the world are preparing their proposals for the upcoming World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), which will take place in Dubai this December.  During WCIT 2012, the 193 member states of the ITU, a United Nations agency, will decide whether to impose new regulations on the networks and economics of the Internet.”

Amb. Gross has been named chair of an Ad Hoc Coalition that represents  a diverse group of 15 of the world’s largest multinational telecoms, Internet and media companies regarding the WCIT conference.  During the interview, Amb. Gross was asked about the accuracy of media reports that characterize the conference as a UN “takeover” of the Internet.

“The way I think of this is not so much the UN or the ITU ‘taking over the Internet.’ The way I think of it is, all of the proposals that will be considered originate with member states, with countries, not with the organization itself,” said Amb. Gross.  “I think that there is a huge threshold question about whether the ITU should be involved in the issues, through these ITRs, at all.  And the U.S. position, as articulated last week, was, ‘No’ and ‘Hell no.’  And I think that’s very positive from my parochial perspective.  But other governments obviously disagree.  And how that will be resolved will be a lot of work between now and December.”

To read the entire interview, click here.