International telecommunications policy

The International Telecommunications Policy Directorate is responsible for analyzing issues to support the development and coordination of international Canadian telecommunications policy and strategies. It negotiates multilateral and bilateral government-to-government treaty-binding agreements for Canada, pertaining in particular to the International Telecommunication Union.

The Directorate secures and protects Canada’s international telecommunications priorities and interests. It also coordinates and develops Canadian policies on Internet governance and ensures that Canada's views and interests are put forward in the development of global and domestic Internet policy, particularly those associated with the Internet's Domain Name System.

Through representation in a number of international bilateral and multilateral forums, such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC-TEL), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), the Telecommunications Policy Branch coordinates and negotiates Canadian government and industry positions, encourages discussion of international marketplace issues and the impact of emerging technologies, and facilitates trade policy issues in the international telecommunication arena. The Branch also belongs to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) and the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO).

The Branch has a significant role in the oversight and governance of organizations such as the ITU and serves as lead coordinator on ITU matters. The Branch has the responsibility for chairing all national committees of the Canadian National Organization (CNO) dealing with all facets of ITU work in an effort to develop coherent and defensible Canadian proposals and positions at international meetings, conferences and assemblies.