January 15, 2020
USTelecom is joining the global conversations currently unfolding at the United Nations’ Internet Governance Forum, contributing critical research and data and sharing information in the international organization’s Best Practice Forums (BPFs).
Specifically, USTelecom will participate in the BPF on Cybersecurity, which collects and shares cybersecurity best practices globally to increase implementation. This will allow USTelecom to expand the reach of leading industry practices supported, and in many cases developed, by our members.
USTelecom’s cyber leadership is already being noticed. In 2019, our annual anti-botnet guide produced by the Council to Secure the Digital Economy (CSDE) was recognized by the BPF on Cybersecurity among the world’s leading cybersecurity contributions, including the Paris Call, the GCSC’s Six Critical Norms Towards Cyber Stability, and outputs of the UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) and the Open Ended Working Group (OEWG).
USTelecom will also participate in the BPF on Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This group focuses on issues of trust, as well as societal challenges involving new and emerging technologies transforming our lives. Another excellent example of USTelecom’s leadership in this debate is the CSDE’s publication of the C2 Consensus, the world’s leading industry consensus on IoT security and endorsed by 20 major technology organizations representing thousands of companies.
United Nations Internet Governance Forum
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was established in 2006 by the UN Secretary General to facilitate global multi-stakeholder dialogue about policy issues related to the internet, including cybersecurity. The Forum fosters cooperation across the world among private and public stakeholders who have an interest in the internet’s future, including governments, enterprises, technical experts, and civil society.
Throughout the year, the IGF’s work includes:
- Best Practice Forums (BPFs) – The UN Commission on Science and Technology has called for the development of tangible outputs. The BPFs publish actionable resources for the global policy community, including cybersecurity best practices, to meet this goal. These publications reach a wide and diverse audience and have served as key input for initiatives such as the bi-annual Global Conference on Cyberspace.
- Dynamic Coalitions (DCs) – Multi-stakeholder groups dedicated to a specific issue or set of issues. The bottom-up and largely independent nature of these groups allows them to tackle an incredible variety of priorities, from technical issues to public policy and social issues, such as human rights.
- National and Regional IGF Initiatives – These initiatives are based in countries and regions across the world, in order to work on issues of cyber policy and internet governance that arise from the needs of different communities.
- Connecting the Next Billions – Currently, more than 4 billion people lack internet access. This intercessional program explores various policy options for expanding internet access globally to people who remain unconnected.
- Implementation of Internet Standards and Protocols – With the goal of a safer worldwide internet, this program brings together policymakers, industry representatives, and the technical community, as well as other stakeholders, to actively share experiences and formulate recommendations on voluntary adoption of internet standards.