WASHINGTON – Today, the United States joined the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Japan to form the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT). GCOT’s goals include increased cooperation and coordination between the partners – on shared priorities such as telecommunications supply chain diversification and open network architectures – building broader international consensus on key areas of telecommunications policy and promoting innovation and growth opportunities for industry. GCOT is the broadest international grouping to date focused on the specific priorities outlined in its joint statement of intent.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is leading U.S. participation in GCOT, with support from the State Department's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. The following statement can be attributed to Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator.
“The critical telecommunications issues of today are global in scope,” said Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator. “This groundbreaking coalition will help the U.S. and our partners respond decisively to cross-border opportunities and challenges. By working ever more closely together, the Coalition members will advance secure, diverse, resilient, and innovative telecommunications networks around the world.”
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About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.