Kiri

AP-41 Ad Hoc WORKING GROUP

- Kick-off meeting, January 28h, 2025 -

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks by the ITSO DG and WG Chair

2. Presentation of the AP-41 Ad Hoc Working Group

3. Review of the Terms of References

4. Proposal on WG composition

5. Working methodology, leadership and ToRs coordinators

6. Calendar of meetings

7. AOB

8. Closing remarks

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Contribution of the AP-41-WG WG Chairman 15 January 2025

CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CHAIRMAN

WORKING GROUP METHODOLOGY

1 INTRODUCTION

The WG was established by the 41ST Assembly of Parties (AP-41) to develop a comprehensive

report with strategic recommendations for consideration at the next Assembly of Parties. The focus

will be on ensuring the resilience of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization

(ITSO) and safeguarding the Common Heritage

Building on the work initiated by the AP-40 Ad Hoc Working Groups 1 and 2, and in light of

recent developments in the satellite industry, it is proposed to develop measures aimed at shaping

a stronger, more effective, and responsive ITSO. These measures should ensure that ITSO remains

closely aligned with the evolving interests of all Parties and the future strategic direction of the

Organization. This process will involve consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including but

not limited to ITSO, Notifying Administrations, Intelsat, ITU, and the Parties, to ensure

comprehensive input and alignment with industry and regulatory advancements.

The WG will be reporting to the IAC on the progress and to the next AP. In order to ensure that

the Working Group provides its report on time, below is a proposed methodology.

2 MEMBERSHIP

Participation in the Working Group will be open to all Parties, ensuring inclusivity and broad

representation. To facilitate the work of the WG it is suggested that there is a core representation

with representatives from different ITSO regions (the number of representatives per region to be

agreed during the first meeting of the WG in January 2025).

3 PROPOSED LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE FOR THE WG (SEE ANNEX 2)

The WG shall be led by a chairperson designated by the AP-41 (Abdouramane El Hadjar from the

Party of Cameroon).

Two rapporteurs will be nominated by the first meeting of the WG. The rapporteurs will assist the

Chair in preparing summary minutes of the WG meeting as well as preparing documents and

finalizing the WG Report.

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4 MEETING ORGANIZATION

All WG meetings shall be conducted in virtual mode.

WG meetings will be held approximately every other month.

The ITSO Secretariat will send invitations together with the link for the meeting at least two

weeks before the date of the meeting.

All meetings shall be conducted in English only.

5 WORKING METHODOLOGY

The drafting work will be done by correspondence in order to save time during the WG meetings.

The list of the ToRs can be found in attachment 1.

We propose to group the ToR into related issues and to designate Coordinators and Vice

Coordinators for the Terms of Reference, according to the proposal from Attachment 2. The WG

shall designate Coordinators and Vice Coordinators of each ToR grouping during the first meeting

of the WG.

The Coordinator of a ToR shall be available and responsible to initiate a discussion document of

that specific ToR based on contributions from members of the WG, ITSO Parties, and ITSO

Secretariat.

The contributions shall be submitted to the ITSO Secretariat with copies to Coordinators of the

ToR and to the Regional Vice Chairs; see attachment 3.

The ITSO Secretariat shall post all updated documents in Word format available for download on

the ITSO website under “About Us/Governance and Groups/Working Group/AP-41 Ad Hoc WG”.

The meeting will be primarily for the review and approval of the draft documents initiated by

Coordinators of different ToR.

The WG shall generally work on a consensus basis.

If members of the WG do not agree on a particular text, alternative options may be developed

and/or the text shall be kept in square brackets and be discussed at high level (IAC or AP-42).

All the documents to be reviewed by the WG meeting shall be made available to all members at

least one week before the meeting. Nevertheless, if the meeting agrees, a specific

document/proposal may be discussed within a regular meeting even if it has been

circulated/submitted less than a week before the meeting.

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.

In case the WG wishes to seek information from or respond to any other group under ITSO, it shall

be done by liaison statement.

The Chair, assisted by the two rapporteurs of the WG and the ITSO Secretariat, will compile all

documents from Coordinators of the ToR and the compiled and approved document will be

presented to the IAC and AP-42.

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Attachment 1: Terms of Reference for the Working Group

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Attachment 2: Terms of Reference and Coordinators

TERMS OF REFERENCE PROPOSED

COORDINATOR

ToR 1

Consider the circumstances, expertise and experience of ITSO, to

include a focus on strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the

formulation of recommendations for a more successful ITSO, while

including mechanisms to ensure the company provides the minimum

required funding for ITSO.

ToR 3

Review and make recommendations on possible way to improve the

PSA for better collaboration between Intelsat or any other operator and

ITSO

ToR 5

Identify and make recommendations on the various issues that may

arise in connection with specific decisions that could be undertaken by

Intelsat or any other operator which have a direct impact on the

Common Heritage such as bankruptcy, mergers, change of ownership,

etc.

Region TBD/

Person TBD

ToR 2

Taking into consideration recommendations of WG1 and WG2

approved by the AP-41, consider and make recommendations to

enhance the collaboration between ITSO and the Notifying

Administrations that supports the implementation of Article XII (c) of

the ITSO Agreement.

ToR 4

Assess the processes and mechanisms for the assignment and

management of the Common Heritage, ensure its protection and make

appropriate recommendations for closer alignment between the work

of ITSO and the Notifying Administrations.

ToR 6

Identify the circumstances under which unused Common Heritage

orbital locations could be suppressed and make recommendations for

re-assignment to other operators.

Region TBD/

Person TBD

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ToR 7

Recommend mechanisms of transferring the non-exploited CH to

another company that has undertaken to comply with PSA obligations,

taking into account the ITSO Agreement.

ToR 8

Recommend mechanisms to fill gaps that could lead to a replacement

of suppressed CH filing by new filings from other Administrations

other than the NAs of the CH.

ToR 9

Further consider and make recommendations on the proposal that was

submitted by Region D to AP-40 to have one NA per region.

Region TBD/

Person TBD

Attachment 3: Regional Vice Chairs

Mr. Douglas May

representative of the Party of the United States

(Region A, The Americas)

Dr. Bianca Lins

representative of the Party of Liechtenstein

(Region B, Western Europe)

Mr. Tomasz Pińciurek

representative of the Party of Poland

(Region C, Eastern Europe & Northern Asia)

Dr. Zolana João

representative of the Party of Angola

(Region D, Africa)

Mr. Nedal Al Samara

representative of the Party of Jordan

(Region E, Asia and Australasia)

Contribution of the AP-41-WG Director General 15 January 2025

CONTRIBUTION FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

TO THE AP-41 AD HOC WORKING GROUP

1. PRESENTATION OF THE AP-41 AD HOC WORKING GROUP

The Ad Hoc Working Group was established by the 41st Assembly of Parties (AP-41) in October

2024. The Assembly also decided that the Ad Hoc Working Group should be chaired by the Party

of Cameroon, by Mr. Abdouramane El Hadjar, and AP-41 approved the terms of reference of the

Working Group contained in attachment 1.

The goal of the AP-41 Ad Hoc WG is to develop a comprehensive report with strategic

recommendations for consideration at the next Assembly of Parties. The focus will be on ensuring

the resilience of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) and

safeguarding the Common Heritage.

Building on the work initiated by the AP-40 Ad Hoc Working Groups 1 and 2, and in light of

recent developments in the satellite industry, it is proposed to develop measures aimed at shaping

a stronger, more effective, and responsive ITSO. These measures should ensure that ITSO remains

closely aligned with the evolving interests of all Parties and the future strategic direction of the

Organization. This process will involve consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including but

not limited to ITSO, Notifying Administrations, Intelsat, ITU, and the Parties, to ensure

comprehensive input and alignment with industry and regulatory advancements.

2. REVIEW OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Terms of Reference of the WG was approved by AP-41 and it is contained in attachment 1.

3. PROPOSAL ON WG COMPOSITION

Participation in the Working Group will be open to all Parties, ensuring inclusivity and broad

representation. The WG composition was not addressed at AP-41. The Director General proposes

to follow the same approach of the AP-40 Working Groups 1 and 2 with a core representation of

a number of regional representatives, the Notifying Administrations, the Regional Vice Chairs or

their substitutes and the Director General. Due to the different number of countries per region,

rather than having a fixed number of 3 representatives per Region, the Director General proposes

that the group is composed of:

Region A: 3 representatives

Region B: 3 representatives

Region C: 2 representatives

Region D: 4 representatives

Region E: 3 representatives

The Director General proposes that the Regional Vice Chairs coordinate the membership of their

regions, taking into account their availability, and inform the ITSO Secretariat by February 5th

2025 the names and contact details of the representatives from their regions. In addition to the core

representatives, all ITSO Parties can participate in the WG.

4. WORKING METHODOLOGY, LEADERSHIP AND TORS COORDINATORS

a) The meetings of WG1 shall be conducted remotely, with the support of ITSO Secretariat.

The Director General proposes to have 4 to 6 meetings between January and November

2025 with the possibility of adapting the schedule contained in item 5 of this document in

accordance with the WG activity.

b) The meetings will be conducted exclusively in English language.

c) The drafting work will be carried out by correspondence.

d) The Director General proposes to group the ToR into related issues and to designate

Coordinators and Vice Coordinators for the Terms of Reference, according to the proposal

from Attachment 2. The WG shall designate Coordinators and Vice Coordinators of each

ToR grouping during the first meeting of the WG.

e) Each coordinator shall initiate discussion documents on the specific Terms of Reference,

based on the contributions submitted by the members of the Working Group, Regional

Vice Chairs, ITSO Secretariat or any ITSO Party. The contributions shall be submitted to

the ITSO Secretariat with copies to Coordinators of the ToR and to the Regional Vice

Chairs, see Attachment 3.

f) The ITSO Secretariat shall post all updated documents in Word format available for

download on the ITSO website under “About Us/Governance and Groups/Working

Group/AP-41 Ad Hoc WG”.

g) The working documents will be reviewed and approved during the WG meetings, on a

consensus basis. In case of lack of consensus on a particular text, alternative options may

be developed and/or the respective text shall be kept in brackets and presented as such at

IAC and/or AP-42.

h) The agenda and the documents of each meeting shall be circulated to all members at least

one week before the meeting. Nevertheless, if the meeting agrees, a specific

document/proposal may be discussed within a regular meeting even if it has been

circulated/submitted less than a week before the meeting.

i) In case of additional information needed/required from any other ITSO structure, the

Working Group may rely on liaison statements.

j) The Chair, assisted by the two rapporteurs of the WG and the ITSO Secretariat, shall

compile all documents from Coordinators of the ToR and the compiled and approved

document shall be presented to IAC and AP-42.

5. CALENDAR OF MEETINGS

January 28th – WG Kick off meeting

March 25th – WG meeting 2

May 20th – WG meeting 3

June 24th – WG meeting 4

Sep 9th – WG meeting 5

Nov 4th – WG meeting 6

Interim Report

Tentative Dates for IAC-26 and AP-42 (still pending confirmation)

March 2026 – IAC-26 Meeting

September/October 2026 – AP-42 Meeting

Attachment 1: Terms of Reference for the Working Group

Attachment 2: Terms of Reference and Their Coordinators

TERMS OF REFERENCE PROPOSED

COORDINATOR

ToR 1

Consider the circumstances, expertise and experience of ITSO, to

include a focus on strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the

formulation of recommendations for a more successful ITSO, while

including mechanisms to ensure the company provides the minimum

required funding for ITSO.

ToR 3

Review and make recommendations on possible way to improve the

PSA for better collaboration between Intelsat or any other operator and

ITSO

ToR 5

Identify and make recommendations on the various issues that may

arise in connection with specific decisions that could be undertaken by

Intelsat or any other operator which have a direct impact on the

Common Heritage such as bankruptcy, mergers, change of ownership,

etc.

Region TBD/

Person TBD

ToR 2

Taking into consideration recommendations of WG1 and WG2

approved by the AP-41, consider and make recommendations to

enhance the collaboration between ITSO and the Notifying

Administrations that supports the implementation of Article XII (c) of

the ITSO Agreement.

ToR 4

Assess the processes and mechanisms for the assignment and

management of the Common Heritage, ensure its protection and make

appropriate recommendations for closer alignment between the work

of ITSO and the Notifying Administrations.

ToR 6

Identify the circumstances under which unused Common Heritage

orbital locations could be suppressed and make recommendations for

re-assignment to other operators.

Region TBD/

Person TBD

ToR 7

Recommend mechanisms of transferring the non-exploited CH to

another company that has undertaken to comply with PSA obligations,

taking into account the ITSO Agreement.

ToR 8

Recommend mechanisms to fill gaps that could lead to a replacement

of suppressed CH filing by new filings from other Administrations

other than the NAs of the CH.

ToR 9

Further consider and make recommendations on the proposal that was

submitted by Region D to AP-40 to have one NA per region.

Region TBD/

Person TBD

Attachment 3: Regional Vice Chairs

Mr. Douglas May

representative of the Party of the United States

(Region A, The Americas)

Dr. Bianca Lins

representative of the Party of Liechtenstein

(Region B, Western Europe)

Mr. Tomasz Pińciurek

representative of the Party of Poland

(Region C, Eastern Europe & Northern Asia)

Dr. Zolana João

representative of the Party of Angola

(Region D, Africa)

Mr. Nedal Al Samara

representative of the Party of Jordan

(Region E, Asia and Australasia)