Chairman's Report

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Chairman's Report

In 2000, the USTTI will offer an expanded Millennium Curriculum of 90 diverse communications and information technology courses for communications leaders from the developing world. The USTTI's goal in 2000 is the same basic goal that inspired the creation of the USTTI in 1982 — sharing U.S. telecom and information technology and management experience with communications officials and entrepreneurs from the developing world so that our USTTI graduates can return home and continue their good efforts to bring modern communications to their fellow countrymen.

During the 17 years since the USTTI was launched at the Nairobi ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, the USTTI has offered 934 tuition free courses and has graduated 5,580 women and men who are now helping to advance the USTTI's goal of making modern communications a reality in 160 developing countries.

While the USTTI Board of Directors is proud of the USTTI's record of sharing, we realize that there is much more to be done if the USTTI family of volunteer trainers, Board members and graduates are to achieve our collective goal of full communications parity between the developed and developing world.

To aggressively advance that goal in 2000, the USTTI's Millennium Curriculum will expand our wireless, Internet, E-Commerce, broadcasting and telemedicine training while maintaining the core courses so vital to modern communications — training in satellite technology, spectrum management, distance learning, telecom, WTO and privatization implementation.

As we journey into the 21st Century, it is particularly exciting to be able to provide the USTTI's diverse communications training in an environment where so many profoundly important technological advances in communications are taking place — advances with the Internet, multiple 3G wireless technologies, new satellite applications, fiber optics and broadband technologies. Based on the USTTI's global outreach since 1982, the year 2000 is unquestionably the most exciting time for our graduates to take full advantage of the technological breakthroughs that will make modern communications a reality for people throughout our entire globe.

As the USTTI continues to aggressively pursue its goal of sharing communications know how with the women and men who can effectuate progress in their countries, I want to thank all of the USTTI's volunteer lecturers and trainers — women and men representing government agencies and leading telecommunications and IT companies who year after year make the USTTI's curriculum possible. I also want to applaud our 5,580 graduates who are our partners as they work in the new Millennium to improve the quality of life for their countrymen through modern, universal communications.

Michael R. Gardner

Chairman, USTTI