4 September 1998
Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aaces002.html
[Congressional Record: September 2, 1998 (Senate)]
[Page S9854-S9869]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr02se98-23]
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999
The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.
[Snip]
Amendment No. 3537
(Purpose: To state the sense of the Senate regarding the development by
the International Telecommunication Union of world standards for the
next generation of wireless telecommunications services)
At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following:
Sec. . (a) The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) The International Telecommunication Union, an agency of
the United Nations, is currently developing recommendations
for world standards for the next generation of wireless
telecommunications services based on the concept of a
``family'' of standards.
(2) On June 30, 1998, the Department of State submitted
four proposed standards to the ITU for consideration in the
development of those recommendations.
(3) Adoption of an open and inclusive set of multiple
standards, including all four submitted by the Department of
State, would enable existing systems to operate with the next
generation of wireless standards.
(4) It is critical to the interests of the United States
that existing systems be given this ability.
(b) It is the sense of the Senate that the Federal
Communications Commission and appropriate executive branch
agencies take all appropriate actions to promote development,
by the ITU, of recommendations for digital wireless
telecommunications services based on a family of open and
inclusive multiple standards, including all four standards
submitted by the Department of State, so as to allow
operation of existing systems with the next generation of
wireless standards.
Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, I rise today to address a very serious
problem facing U.S. telecommunications service and equipment suppliers.
The International Telecommunications Union is currently considering the
implementation of a family of world standards for the next generation
of digital wireless communications. These ITU standards will have a
significant impact on the ability of American telecommunications
equipment and service suppliers to compete in the competitive world
telecommunications market. European nations, working through the
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), proposed a
standard to the ITU based on Global System for Mobile Communication
(GSM), the only digital standard permitted by law in Europe. The ETSI
proposal is not compatible with American developed CDMA technology and
if adopted by the ITU it could have the affect of shutting U.S. CDMA
manufacturers out of the world market and rendering such investments
obsolete. In light of the EU's decision to only submit a GSM standard
to the ITU it is important that the United States take steps to ensure
that American developed technology is not left behind.
The sense of the Senate I offered today with Senator Lott, sends a
strong message that the Federal Communications Commission and other
appropriate executive branch agencies should take all appropriate
actions to promote U.S. technology in this ITU proceeding. At the
conclusion of the World Trade Organization Basic Telecommunications
Agreement, the Administration assured Congress that the
telecommunications markets of America's largest trading partners would
be open to U.S. companies. However, the European Union is considering a
technical standard for itself that could lock U.S. manufacturers out of
the European market. A similar result in the ITU would be devastating.
I am pleased today that the Senate has sent a clear statement to U.S.
negotiators that the pending ITU standards must not reflect a narrow
and harmful standard that locks American wireless technology out of
world markets. Instead, U.S. negotiators should promote a family of
standards that are compatible with U.S. technologies and safeguard
American interests.
The ITU is now on notice that whatever standards it may adopt next,
such standards must be harmonized or compatible with each other.
3 September 1998, PR Newswire:
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- A U.S. Sense of the Senate Resolution was approved yesterday which said:
1. The International Telecommunications Union, an agency of the United Nations, is currently developing recommendations for world standards for the next generation of wireless telecommunications services based on the concept of a "family" of standards.
2. On June 30, 1998, the Department of State submitted four proposed standards to the ITU for consideration in the development of those recommendations.
3. Adoption of an open and inclusive set of multiple standards, including all four submitted by the Department of State, would enable existing systems to operate with the next generation of wireless standards.
4. It is critical to the interests of the United States that existing systems be given this ability.
(b) It is the sense of the Senate that the Federal Communications Commission and appropriate executive branch agencies take all appropriate actions to promote development, by the ITU, of recommendations for digital wireless telecommunications services based on a family of open and inclusive multiple standards, including all four standards submitted by the Department of State, so as to allow operation of existing systems with the next generation of wireless standards.
North American GSM Alliance Statement:
"We applaud the Senate's resolution supporting multiple Third Generation Wireless digital standards, including each of the four standards submitted by the U.S. Government to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
"It reaffirms the decision of the Federal Communications Commission and the State Department to submit to the ITU all standards developed by the private sector, rather than to favor one standard over another.
"The U.S. Government has consistently supported the creation of multiple technologies that can compete in the market, and refused to dictate or interfere with private sector technology choices. The resulting competition among technologies has brought innovation in features and services, as well as lower prices, to consumers.
"The Senate's resolution further reaffirms the successful U.S. position: Let the marketplace decide!"
"With more than 2 million customers in nearly 1,600 cities in 42 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. GSM service operators support the protection of multiple standards and the ability to evolve our existing systems to the next generation of wireless standards.
"GSM operators, in addition to investing billions of dollars to establish their networks and launch their services in America have created more than 10,500 new U.S. direct jobs, with an estimated additional 25,000 new U.S. employees involved in service, manufacturing and associated jobs. GSM equipment manufacturers have facilities in a variety of U.S. locations including Raleigh, NC, Richardson, Texas and Lynchburg, VA.
SOURCE North American GSM Alliance
/CONTACT: Mike Houghton, 703-799-7383, houghton@communicreate.com, for the North American GSM Alliance/