Chairman’s Report

In 2022, the USTTI conducted in-person training based in the United States, webinars, and regional trainings outside the United States. In total, the USTTI trained two thousand and twenty-six (2,026) USTTI Scholars. Two hundred and forty-six (246) were trained through our in-person programs while one thousand seven hundred and eighty (1,780) participated in our webinars.  The USTTI’s tuition-free training courses would not have been possible without the immense support from the USTTI’s Board of Directors. Throughout 2022, USTTI trainers volunteered their time, shared their expertise, and provided insight into their experiences with our USTTI Scholars.

This year marked forty years since the USTTI was launched by Ambassador Michael Gardner, at the ITU’s Plenipotentiary Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. At this year’s ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest, Romania we saw 46 countries have their delegations Chaired, or Vice-Chaired, by USTTI Alumni. During the 2022 Plenipotentiary, we also witnessed Doreen Bogdan-Martin be elected as Secretary-General of the ITU. A wonderful friend and supporter of the USTTI, Doreen became the first-ever woman elected to lead the ITU in its 157-year history. We congratulate her on her historic victory, and we look forward to working with her and building on the strong collaboration between the USTTI and the ITU.

When we reflect, we see the tremendous progress that has been led by USTTI Alumni since the program was founded in 1982. We see the impact USTTI Alumni have had globally in the billions who are connected. We also recognize the challenges that remain as we all work to provide meaningful connectivity and connect the unconnected. We are motivated by the successes of USTTI Alumni and the opportunities that remain.

As such, we are preparing an ambitious training curriculum for 2023. In the New Year, we will announce a full schedule of training sequences returning us to pre-pandemic course offerings addressing regulatory policy, 5G, spectrum management, wireless technologies, cybersecurity, emergency communications, telehealth, and satellite applications. We will also announce a new slate of webinars training and training conducted outside the United States.  These programs will seek to do what we have done for the past four decades: to share our experiences with you – the women and men who design, regulate, and oversee the communications sectors of your countries.

The USTTI’s training and outreach would not be possible without the ongoing support of our USTTI Board of Directors. These representatives from the government and industry are responsible for the courses we offer and the support we provide. Their ongoing commitment is vital to our success and something we are incredibly grateful for.

I wish you all the best for the remaining days of 2022 and look forward to welcoming you to USTTI Training in 2023.

Sincerely,
Jim O’Connor
Chairman and CEO