INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION				COM 16 – LS 23
	TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDIZATION SECTOR STUDY PERIOD 2001-2004
					Original: English
Question(s):		I/16	Geneva, 15-25 October 2002
Source:		ITU-T Study Group 16
Title:		New Question on Use of Public Telecommunication Services for Emergency and Disaster Relief Operations
LIAISON STATEMENT
To:		ITU-T Study Groups 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, SSG; ITU-R; ITU-D; ETSI OCG EMTEL Ad Hoc, Project TIPHON, Partnership Project MESA, Partnership Project 3GPP, TC SPAN; IETF ieprep WG; United Nations’ Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications
Approval:		Study Group 16 Plenary 25 October 2002
For:		Information/Comment
Deadline:		None
Contact:		Hal Folts National Communications System USA		Tel: +1 703 607-6186 Fax: +1 703 607-4830 Email: foltsh@ncs.gov

Your liaison statements are greatly appreciated in response to our liaison statement of 15 February on new work addressing telecommunications capabilities for emergency and disaster operations. The proposed Question, Q.ets/16, has now been approved and is identified as Q.I/16. A copy of the approved text for the Question is available at http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/studygroups/com16/sg16-qi.html. The question has been structured to identify overall requirements, identify the needed telecommunication capabilities, and develop a system framework. Recognizing that there is considerable related work being addressed in many Study Groups and other organizations, close cooperation and liaison (coordination) among the many activities is essential to ensure consistency and completeness in provisioning effective telecommunication capabilities to support emergency and disaster operations. Q.I/16 is intended to facilitate this process.

Many of the responses received provided information about the work underway in the many activities. These have been compiled and developed into a “living” table that will continue to be updated as new information emerges. The table can be viewed at:

http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/studygroups/com16/ets/live-list.html

Please continue to provide information about your specific work on this important subject and your progress in developing revised and new Recommendations and standards.