VZCZCXRO2420
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHC #7143/01 0551955
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241951Z FEB 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 3707
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0953
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 2862

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 017143 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECPS ECON
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR POST TO IDENTIFY TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
POLICY OFFICERS 
 
STATE 00017143  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶1.  Summary.  This is an Action Cable. The State 
Department has primary USG-wide authority for the 
conduct of foreign policy with respect to communications 
and information policy, and EEB's office of 
International Communications and Information Policy 
(CIP) is responsible for the formulation, coordination, 
and oversight of that policy.  From mobile phones, to 
broadband to Internet governance, radio spectrum, 
satellite navigation, and broadcast television, and 
ranging from online child exploitation and 
cybersecurity, to cloud computing and online privacy, 
the issues that CIP handles are as dynamic as the 
Internet and modern communications technologies 
themselves.  To support our efforts, CIP relies on each 
Post to designate am economics officer as its 
Telecommunications Policy Officers (TPO) who will work 
with CIP to advance U.S. policy interests.  CIP is 
asking Posts to identify their TPO by cable to EEB/CIP 
by March 10.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  Both President Obama and Secretary Clinton have 
voiced their strong support for the use of information 
and communications technology (ICT) as both a driver of 
economic development at home and abroad, and a means for 
communicating and promoting U.S. values.  U.S. companies 
are world leaders in ICT, and ICT is expected to lead 
the U.S. and world economies both in terms of innovation 
and as an engine of productivity.  New industries like 
health IT and smart grids will create jobs and export 
opportunities in the near and long term.  Working with 
our trading partners to increase these opportunities - 
and making sure that new barriers to such trade are not 
imposed -- is an important mission which the State 
Department can support both in bilateral and 
multilateral fora. 
 
¶3.  CIP advocates international policies for expanded 
access to ICT, improved efficiency in the worldwide ICT 
and telecommunications market through increased reliance 
on free-market forces, and fair opportunities for U.S. 
companies to participate in this important sector around 
the globe.  An efficient global ICT and 
telecommunications structure creates a healthier 
environment for U.S. companies doing business in all 
sectors, improving the standard of living at home and 
abroad.   Under the leadership of the U.S. Coordinator 
for International Communications and Information Policy, 
Ambassador Philip L. Verveer, CIP has the responsibility 
of fulfilling the Congressional mandate that the State 
Department lead the coordination of international ICT 
policy among the Federal Communications Commission, the 
National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration at the Department of Commerce, the U.S. 
Trade Negotiator and other USG agencies. 
 
¶4.  The following is a brief overview of the CIP offices 
and the scope of their activities: 
-  Multilateral Affairs (CIP/MA). 
The Office of Multilateral Affairs represents the full 
range of U.S. ICT and Telecom Policy interests in at 
multilateral fora including the International 
Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Internet Governance 
Forum (IGF), APEC, the Organization of American States 
and the OECD.  Among the issues which CIP/MA tackles are 
questions of the allocation of radio spectrum in a world 
ever more hungry for bandwidth, a broad range of 
telecommunications and Internet-Protocol based standards 
such as smart-grid technology and Next Generation 
Networks, cybersecurity, and the maintenance of an open 
and free Internet. 
 
- Bilateral Affairs (CIP/BA). 
The Office of Bilateral and Regional Affairs works with 
bilateral and regional partners on issues such as market 
access overseas for U.S. industry commercial interests, 
cross-border coordination of radio, satellite and 
telephone communications with  Canada and Mexico, the 
U.S. response to Google's allegations of cyber attacks 
coming from China, and Internet freedom where CIP/BA 
serves as EEB's lead for the Department's NetFreedom 
Task Force.  CIP/BA organizes bilateral ICT dialogues 
and roundtables with key partners such as the European 
Union, India, China, Mexico, Brazil and Russia.  It 
meets with U.S. industry and other stakeholders 
 
STATE 00017143  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
regarding market access issues, website take-downs, and 
other disputes. 
 
- Technology and Security Policy (CIP/TS) 
The mission of the Office of Technology and Security 
Policy is to promote U.S. national policies concerning 
the protection if ICT services across cable, satellite 
and cyber networks, while ensuring that evolving 
technologies are considered during the development of 
national technology policies.  CIP/TS also works with 
interagency and industry participants to defend 
sensitive U.S. technologies and to promote greater 
access to wireless communications worldwide. 
 
¶5.  CIP wants to hear from Posts regarding ICT and 
telecommunications developments in host countries, 
market-opening/liberalization actions, possible ICT- 
related trade barriers, actions against U.S. ICT 
companies, internet censorship, host country plans to 
expand broadband, satellite, digital television, and 
mobile phone access, the role of ICT in development, 
moves to establish new ICT standards and to protect or 
promote ICT innovation, and ways in which we can support 
your Mission's ICT policy objectives.  With your input 
we will launch an online collaborative presence in the 
coming months.  Please visit our OpenNet site: 
eeb.e.state.sbu/sites/cip/default.aspx, and our Internet 
site: www.state.gov/e/eeb/cip, to learn more about CIP. 
 
¶6.  Action Requested: Each post is requested to 
designate an officer who will serve as the Post's 
contact on ICT issues.  Please notify EEB/CIP by cable 
with the name of the officer by March 10, 2010.  Please 
be sure to use the ECPS tag line for this and other 
reporting on ICT issues.  Post may contact EEB/CIP/BA: 
Deborah Kanarek at kanarekdj@state.gov with any 
questions. 
 
¶7. Minimize considered. 
CLINTON