US' Bogdan-Martin Makes History, Elected to ITU Telecom Leadership
Delegates from around the world elected American Doreen Bogdan-Martin director of the ITU Telecom Development Bureau, voting at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference Thursday. Some observers predicted Bogdan-Martin could face an uphill fight, especially since that position traditionally has gone to someone from Africa (see 1808240011). Bogdan-Martin becomes the highest-ranking woman in ITU history and the first person from the U.S. in 30 years to get one of the five leadership positions there. The election establishes her as an eventual candidate for secretary-general, industry observers said.
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Bogdan-Martin was elected on the first ballot, with 95 votes, six more than the required majority. Cosmas Zavazava of Zimbabwe got 66, William Ijeh of Nigeria 16.
Houlin Zhao of China was re-elected secretary-general and Malcolm Johnson of the U.K. deputy secretary-general. With the election of Bogdan-Martin, “a major stride was taken to bridge the digital gender divide,” ITU said. Mario Maniewicz of Uruguay was elected director of the Radiocommunication Bureau and Chaesub Lee of Korea director of the Teleco Standardization Bureau. All have four-year terms.
Former FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell told us the vote could be a “watershed moment” in ITU history. “It could mark a change in thinking,” he said. “Perhaps now, ITU delegates could focus more on a candidate’s substantive qualifications rather than where he or she hails from. An incredible amount of time and energy was invested by the U.S. and others into electing Doreen.” The U.S. "looks forward to working with her and continuing in our role on the ITU Council to support the global expansion of communications technologies,” said NTIA Administrator David Redl, a strong advocate of her candidacy. “Her leadership will give the United States a voice in ITU leadership for the first time in three decades."
Bogdan-Martin “will play a pivotal role in accelerating the spread of digital communications” globally, said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Commissioners Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel welcomed the vote (see here and here).
“Doreen’s election is a great step forward for the ITU in electing a highly qualified and successful woman to such a senior role,” Kalpak Gude, president of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, told us. “She has delivered for all members in the many years she has been at the ITU.” He expects ITU-D "to play an even more central role in helping to solve the digital divide as we move into the 5G future.”
"The results are good," emailed Netmagic Associates' Tony Rutkowski, who previously worked in the ITU secretariat. He said Bogdan-Martin's success "suggests a combination of her own skillful work over the past two decades in assisting developing countries, plus a change of strategic interests among African nations." The Telecom Development Bureau "isn't a strategically important sector for the U.S. [like the Radio Regulations Board]," he said, but still that's "a good outcome. I think she should be given credit for the outcome here rather than the Trump Administration."
Not being from a developing country "was a challenge," but Bogdan-Martin's bona fides such as her years with the ITU and being well liked -- as well as U.S. backing -- carried the day, said Jennifer Manner, EchoStar senior vice president-regulatory affairs. Manner is chair of the FCC World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 regulatory issues working group.