{"id":137582,"date":"2018-08-22T05:45:46","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T10:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=137582"},"modified":"2018-08-22T05:51:28","modified_gmt":"2018-08-22T10:51:28","slug":"ictp-019-demystifying-itu-cleveland-thomas-caribbean-area-rep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2018\/08\/ictp-019-demystifying-itu-cleveland-thomas-caribbean-area-rep\/","title":{"rendered":"ICTP 019:  Demystifying the ITU, with Cleveland Thomas, the Caribbean Area Rep"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>The development of global telecoms and ICT policy and standards is the remit of several organisations, but the most important \u2013 the one that tends to have the greatest impact \u2013 is the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). However, it is somewhat surprising that even among those who pride themselves on being versed in the tech field, many are not familiar with the ITU, nor the work it has done in the Caribbean region. In speaking with Cleveland Thomas, the ITU Area Representative for the Caribbean, he gives some insight into the ITU\u2019s focus globally, plus the organisation\u2019s efforts and priorities in the Caribbean region.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/488907912&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>This episode is also available in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast\/id1373550291\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple iTunes<\/a>\u00a0and on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast?refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stitcher<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Other telecoms and ICT organisations, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Federal Communications Commission (FCC)<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Internet Society<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icann.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Internet\u00a0Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)<\/a>, might be better known than the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Telecommunications Union (ITU)<\/a>, but without a doubt, it is the granddaddy of them all \u2013 at over 150 years old. Established in 1865, the ITU is a specialised agency of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">United Nations (UN)<\/a>, which seeks to address the needs of the UN\u2019s 193 member states in relation telecoms and ICT.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Jqkio_-GOQs\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Although it might not be readily evident, the ITU has a presence in the Caribbean region and has been quietly supporting and facilitating a broad range of telecoms and ICT projects in individual countries, and for the benefit of the region as a whole. Much of that effort is being guided by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-T\/Workshops-and-Seminars\/gsw\/201512\/Pages\/THOMAS-Cleveland-.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cleveland Thomas<\/a>, the ITU Area Representative for the Caribbean, though its office in Bridgetown, Barbados, which covers Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"137587\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2018\/08\/ictp-019-demystifying-itu-cleveland-thomas-caribbean-area-rep\/cleveland-thomas-source-itu\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Cleveland-Thomas-Source-ITU.jpg?fit=310%2C230&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"310,230\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Cleveland Thomas (Source &#8211; ITU)\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt; https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-T\/Workshops-and-Seminars\/gsw\/201512\/Pages\/THOMAS-Cleveland-.aspx&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Cleveland-Thomas-Source-ITU.jpg?fit=300%2C223&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Cleveland-Thomas-Source-ITU.jpg?fit=310%2C230&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-137587\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Cleveland-Thomas-Source-ITU.jpg?resize=310%2C230\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Cleveland-Thomas-Source-ITU.jpg?w=310&amp;ssl=1 310w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Cleveland-Thomas-Source-ITU.jpg?resize=300%2C223&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" \/>In our interview with Cleveland, we try to demystify the ITU, and more specifically, shed some light on its work in the Caribbean, since to a considerable degree, the organisation tends to work behind the scenes \u2013 to support the needs and priorities of the countries it serves. We also spend a few moment to learn about the man: who, from humble beginnings, born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, now liaises with heads of governments across a Caribbean region, for and on behalf of a major and longstanding UN agency! So our in discussion with Cleveland, we covered a broad range of issues, including:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What the ITU is about, and how countries benefit from its work<\/li>\n<li>The ITU\u2019s current priorities globally, and how these are translated into the organisation\u2019s work and focus in the Caribbean<\/li>\n<li>Some of the major projects in the region that the ITU has supported in recent years<\/li>\n<li>Cleveland\u2019s journey to become the ITU Caribbean Area Representative<\/li>\n<li>Cleveland\u2019s thoughts on how telecoms and ICT have evolved in the region<\/li>\n<li>The degree of participation of Caribbean countries in ITU activities, thus shaping global policy<\/li>\n<li>Some of the challenges Cleveland has observed that are affecting the way in which telecoms and ICT are developing in the Caribbean<\/li>\n<li>Some of the current and\/or imminent ITU-supported projects in the region<\/li>\n<li>Specific goals Cleveland would like to accomplish during his tenure as the ITU Caribbean Area Representative.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Select links<\/h3>\n<p>Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Telecommunications Union<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">United Nations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-D\/Climate-Change\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Climate change and e-waste<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-D\/Emergency-Telecommunications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Emergency telecommunications<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-D\/Projects\/ITU-EC-ACP\/HIPCAR\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enhancing competitiveness in the Caribbean through the harmonization of ICT Policies,\u00a0 Legislation\u00a0and Regulatory Procedures (HIPCAR Project)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/net4\/wsis\/forum\/2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2018<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-T\/ssc\/resources\/Pages\/topic-001.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Internet of Things (IoT)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tstt.co.tt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/web\/pp-18\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Federal Communications Commission, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\/general\/international-settlements-policy-and-us-international-accounting-rates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Settlements Policy and U.S.-International Accounting Rates<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-D\/Digital-Inclusion\/Women-and-Girls\/Girls-in-ICT-Portal\/Pages\/Portal.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Girls in ICT Day<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Pilot project <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-D\/Regional-Presence\/Americas\/Pages\/ACTVTS\/PRJ\/AMS-PRJ.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>&#8220;Alternate Emergency Telecommunication Network<\/em>&#8220;<\/a>, as known as the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.winlink.org\/\">WinLink<\/a> project<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-D\/Technology\/Pages\/ConformanceandInteroperability.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Conformance and Interoperability<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.japarliament.gov.jm\/attachments\/article\/339\/The%20Data%20Protection%20Act,%202017----.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jamaica\u2019s Proposed Data Protection Act<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-D\/Cybersecurity\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cybersecurity<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-R\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ITU Radiocommunication Sector<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-T\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ITU Telecommunications Standardization Sector <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ITU Telecommunications Development Sector<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Image credits:\u00a0 Circe Denyer (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicdomainpictures.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Public Domain Pictures.net<\/a>);\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-T\/Workshops-and-Seminars\/gsw\/201512\/Pages\/THOMAS-Cleveland-.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ITU<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Music credit:\u00a0 Ray Holman<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The development of global telecoms and ICT policy and standards is the remit of several organisations, but the most important \u2013 the one that tends to have the greatest impact 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