1、 I n t e r n a t i o n a l T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n U n i o n ITU-T A.7 TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDIZATION SECTOR OF ITU (10/2016) SERIES A: ORGANIZATION OF THE WORK OF ITU-T Focus groups: Establishment and working procedures Recommendation ITU-T A.7 Rec. ITU-T A.7 (10/2016) i Recommendation
2、 ITU-T A.7 Focus groups: Establishment and working procedures Summary Recommendation ITU-T A.7 describes working methods and procedures of a focus group such as its establishment, terms of reference, leadership, participation, financing, support, deliverables, etc. ITU-T focus groups are a flexible
3、tool for progressing new work. Such flexibility may allow for groups developing a wide range of deliverables. Since there have been many instances in which the membership of a focus group does not have experience in the development of technical specifications, it has been common that focus group del
4、iverables, although useful, needed to be reworked by the parent study groups. The creation of focus group guidelines for their working, including continued coordination with their parent group, could facilitate the swift development of deliverables by the parent group. Appendix I provides a set of g
5、uidelines to guide study groups and focus groups when implementing ITU-T A.7 focus groups that aim at producing specifications that can be efficiently streamlined from focus group deliverables to ITU-T Recommendations or Supplements, or otherwise. This 2016 edition of the Recommendation integrates t
6、he 2012 edition and its Amendment 1 without introducing any modifications to the text. History Edition Recommendation Approval Study Group Unique ID* 1.0 ITU-T A.7 2000-06-14 TSAG 11.1002/1000/5092 2.0 ITU-T A.7 2002-06-21 TSAG 11.1002/1000/5711 3.0 ITU-T A.7 2004-10-14 TSAG 11.1002/1000/7419 3.1 IT
7、U-T A.7 (2004) Amd. 1 2006-07-07 TSAG 11.1002/1000/8793 4.0 ITU-T A.7 2008-10-30 TSAG 11.1002/1000/9640 5.0 ITU-T A.7 2012-11-30 TSAG 11.1002/1000/11922 5.1 ITU-T A.7 (2012) Amd.1 2015-06-05 TSAG 11.1002/1000/12527 6.0 ITU-T A.7 2016-10-28 TSAG 11.1002/1000/13165 Keywords Focus groups. _ * To access
8、 the Recommendation, type the URL http:/handle.itu.int/ in the address field of your web browser, followed by the Recommendations unique ID. For example, http:/handle.itu.int/11.1002/1000/11830-en. ii Rec. ITU-T A.7 (10/2016) FOREWORD The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nat
9、ions specialized agency in the field of telecommunications, information and communication technologies (ICTs). The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) is a permanent organ of ITU. ITU-T is responsible for studying technical, operating and tariff questions and issuing Recommendations
10、 on them with a view to standardizing telecommunications on a worldwide basis. The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), which meets every four years, establishes the topics for study by the ITU-T study groups which, in turn, produce Recommendations on these topics. The approval o
11、f ITU-T Recommendations is covered by the procedure laid down in WTSA Resolution 1. In some areas of information technology which fall within ITU-Ts purview, the necessary standards are prepared on a collaborative basis with ISO and IEC. NOTE In this Recommendation, the expression “Administration“ i
12、s used for conciseness to indicate both a telecommunication administration and a recognized operating agency. Compliance with this Recommendation is voluntary. However, the Recommendation may contain certain mandatory provisions (to ensure, e.g., interoperability or applicability) and compliance wit
13、h the Recommendation is achieved when all of these mandatory provisions are met. The words “shall“ or some other obligatory language such as “must“ and the negative equivalents are used to express requirements. The use of such words does not suggest that compliance with the Recommendation is require
14、d of any party. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTSITU draws attention to the possibility that the practice or implementation of this Recommendation may involve the use of a claimed Intellectual Property Right. ITU takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of claimed Intellectual
15、 Property Rights, whether asserted by ITU members or others outside of the Recommendation development process. As of the date of approval of this Recommendation, ITU had not received notice of intellectual property, protected by patents, which may be required to implement this Recommendation. Howeve
16、r, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information and are therefore strongly urged to consult the TSB patent database at http:/www.itu.int/ITU-T/ipr/. ITU 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means whatsoever, without the prio
17、r written permission of ITU. Rec. ITU-T A.7 (10/2016) iii Table of Contents Page 1 Scope . 1 2 Establishment, terms of reference and leadership 1 2.1 Establishment . 1 2.2 Terms of reference 3 2.3 Leadership 4 3 Focus group working procedures 4 3.1 Participation 4 4 Financing of focus groups and the
18、ir meetings 4 5 Administrative support . 5 6 Meeting logistics . 5 7 Working language . 5 8 Technical contributions 5 9 Intellectual property rights 5 10 Deliverables approval and distribution 5 10.1 Approval of deliverables 5 10.2 Printing and distribution of deliverables 6 11 Progress reports 6 12
19、 Meeting announcements . 6 13 Working guidelines . 6 Appendix I Guidelines for the efficient transfer of focus group deliverables to its parent group . 7 I.1 Scope 7 I.2 Streamlining the transfer of deliverables by focus groups and their approval by study groups 7 Rec. ITU-T A.7 (10/2016) 1 Recommen
20、dation ITU-T A.7 Focus groups: Establishment and working procedures (2000; 2002; 2004; 2006; 2008; 2012, 2016) 1 Scope The objective of focus groups is to help advance the work of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) study groups and to encourage the participation of members of o
21、ther standards organizations, including experts and individuals who may not be members of ITU. Focus group activities may include an analysis of gaps between current Recommendations and expected Recommendations, and provide material for consideration in the development of Recommendations. Procedures
22、 and working methods are established to facilitate the financing of focus groups, the completion of work on a well-defined topic and the documentation of the results. The process of establishment is described in order to help identify, in a timely and collaborative manner, all study groups concerned
23、 by the scope of a potential focus group, and to agree on a study group or the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) as the parent group. The management of a focus group is placed under the responsibility of a parent group (study group or TSAG), in association with other involved s
24、tudy groups in the case where the work area of the focus group overlaps with the responsibility and the mandate of those study groups (see clause 2.2). 2 Establishment, terms of reference and leadership Within the ITU-T standardization working structure, the establishment procedures of a focus group
25、 should be progressed in a transparent manner. For each step of the establishment process, the compliance of the focus group proposal with all clauses of this Recommendation should be ensured, and all decisions are to be made by consensus. 2.1 Establishment A focus group is established to help advan
26、ce the work of ITU-T study groups. To justify the establishment of a focus group, the following basic criteria shall be fulfilled to their full extent: There is a significant interest in the subject and a need to help advance the work of the ITU-T study groups The subject is not already addressed by
27、 work underway in ITU-T study groups, or cannot currently be handled by a study group There should normally be at least four members (i.e., Member States, or Sector Members from different Member States) who commit to actively support the new focus group. Attention should be paid to distinguishing be
28、tween the following two situations: a) Topic is within the mandate of one study group When the terms of reference of the focus group fall within the mandate of a single study group, that study group has the necessary authority to approve the formation of a focus group and become its parent group (se
29、e clause 2.1.1), provided that the chairman of this study group consults with the chairmen of all possibly impacted study groups. If there is any doubt that all the topics fall under the responsibility and mandate of only this study group, the decision of such an establishment should be referred to
30、TSAG. 2 Rec. ITU-T A.7 (10/2016) b) Topic is within the mandate of multiple study groups When the terms of reference of the focus group fall within the mandate of multiple study groups, TSAG has the necessary authority to approve the formation of a focus group (see clause 2.1.2) and to become its pa
31、rent group or appoint a study group as the parent group. The study group or TSAG, when receiving the written contribution, should check to see which study group could best address the proposed activity for the focus group. The study group dealing with the proposal for a focus group that contains top
32、ics felt as potentially falling under the responsibility and mandate of one or more other study groups remains responsible for the consultation with the other relevant study group chairmen and for informing TSAG and the Director of TSB. The whole procedure for consultation should be kept responsive
33、and fast by using, as often as possible, consultation of relevant parties by e-mail and teleconferencing tools, rather than physical meetings. In all cases, the Director of TSB and the chairman of TSAG are to be kept duly advised during the establishment procedure. The establishment of a focus group
34、 and its first meeting will be announced according to clause 12 by the Director of TSB in cooperation with the parent group. 2.1.1 Establishment by a study group 2.1.1.1 Establishment at a study group meeting For establishment at a study group meeting, the submission of a proposal to set up a focus
35、group on a specific topic, including terms of reference, should take the form of a written contribution submitted at least twelve calendar days before that study group meeting. In the case that all topics fall without doubt, within the work area of this study group, the establishment will be discuss
36、ed during this meeting, and may be decided at the same meeting. If views are expressed that the proposed topic overlaps with the mandate of another study group, the chairman of the study group to which the proposal is addressed will send the proposal to the chairman of TSAG. The chairman of TSAG wil
37、l then proceed as described in clauses 2.1.2.1 or 2.1.2.2 below. 2.1.1.2 Establishment between study group meetings Exceptionally, in response to urgent marketplace needs, a focus group may be established between study group meetings for the purpose of studying technical issues (i.e., those that hav
38、e no regulatory or policy implications). The proposal, including terms of reference, to set up a focus group on a specific technical topic (within the mandate of the parent group) may be sent by any member to the chairman of an appropriate study group selected by the initiators according to the fore
39、seen work content. The chairman coordinates the first review of the proposal with the vice-chairmen and the chairmen of working parties of the study group. If the proposal to establish the focus group is agreed, the proposal, with completed terms of reference, will be posted on the ITU website and d
40、istributed to the study group e-mail distribution list, allowing four weeks for comments. In the absence of unresolved comments, the study group chairman may decide the immediate establishment of the focus group. As far as possible, the chairman should seek to resolve comments by correspondence; how
41、ever, if this is not possible, the decision to approve the establishment of the focus group is to be deferred to the next meeting of the study group. If views are expressed that the proposed focus group overlaps with the mandate of another study group, the chairman of the study group to which the pr
42、oposal is addressed will send the proposal to the chairman of TSAG. The chairman of TSAG will then proceed as described in clauses 2.1.2.1 or 2.1.2.2. Rec. ITU-T A.7 (10/2016) 3 2.1.2 Establishment by TSAG 2.1.2.1 Establishment at a TSAG meeting For establishment at a TSAG meeting, the submission of
43、 a proposal to set up a focus group on a specific topic, including terms of reference, should take the form of a written contribution submitted at least twelve calendar days before that TSAG meeting. The TSAG plenary can decide to establish the focus group and designate the parent group or be its pa
44、rent group. This way of proceeding can also be adopted to decide on cases transmitted according to clause 2.1.1.2 above, when the schedule of the TSAG meeting is compatible with a timely response, whereby the proposal must be available for the members at least twelve calendar days before the meeting
45、. 2.1.2.2 Establishment between TSAG meetings Exceptionally, in response to urgent marketplace needs, a focus group may be established between TSAG meetings for the purpose of studying technical issues (i.e., those that have no regulatory or policy implications). A proposal to set up a focus group o
46、n a specific technical topic, including draft terms of reference, may be submitted by any member to the chairman of TSAG. The chairman of TSAG coordinates the first review of the proposal with the vice-chairmen and working party chairmen of TSAG and chairmen of all study groups. If the proposal to s
47、et up a focus group is agreed, the proposal, with completed terms of reference and the nomination of the parent group, will be posted on the ITU-T website and distributed to the TSAG e-mail distribution list, allowing four weeks for comments. In the absence of unresolved comments, the chairman of TS
48、AG may decide the immediate establishment of the focus group. As far as possible, the chairman of TSAG should seek to resolve comments by correspondence; however, if this is not possible, the decision to approve establishment of the focus group is deferred to the next meeting of TSAG. This way of pr
49、oceeding can also be adopted to decide on cases transmitted according to clause 2.1.1.2 above, when the schedule of the TSAG meetings is not deemed to be compatible with a timely response. 2.2 Terms of reference The topic for a particular focus group is to be well defined (prior to approval), and the terms of reference must include the scope of actions, a plan of action, the expected deliverables and the time schedules for completion. The relationship of this work to that of the parent group must be indicated, in addition to relationships wit
