This landmark declaration called on ITU Member States to take all practical steps to facilitate the rapid deployment and effective use of telecommunications equipment for disaster mitigation and disaster relief by reducing and, where possible, removing regulatory barriers and strengthening transborder co-operation between States. It also urged Member States to apply reduced tariffs, and even waive charges, for domestic and international disaster communications.

The Tampere Declaration was soon followed by resolutions adopted by ITU Member States at the 1994 World Telecommunication Development Conference (Buenos Aires) and Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto). The work that the ITU has been doing within the Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications will culminate in the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference on Emergency Telecommunications (ICET 98), to take place in Tampere, Finland from 16 to 18 June 1998.

The principal objective of this Conference will be to consider, and possibly adopt, the Convention on the Provision of Telecommunications Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations.

The Convention calls on States to facilitate the provision of prompt telecommunications assistance to mitigate the impact of a disaster, and covers both the installation and the operation of reliable, flexible telecommunications services by humanitarian relief organizations. Regulatory barriers that currently impede the use of telecommunications resources for disasters and mitigation will be reduced or removed.

The Convention will safeguard the privileges, immunities and facilities accorded to persons providing disaster assistance by granting them immunity from arrest and detention and exempting them from taxation and duties. Prior to the arrival of telecommunications assistance in a disaster zone, a requesting State party will be obliged to set down in writing the fees it expects to receive or have reimbursed. To avoid excessive charges, the fees will be based on an agreed model of payment and reimbursement, as well as on other factors such as the nature of the disaster, natural hazards and the particular needs of developing countries.

Enhanced coordination between the provider of assistance and the requesting party will be ensured by two bodies. The Operational Coordinator will centralize requests from State parties for assistance (although States retain the right to establish direct links with a provider of assistance). The Technical Coordinator will act as an intermediary between contracting parties and ensure the smooth functioning of some of the Convention’s operative clauses, including maintaining contact with persons within individual States that are authorized to request, offer, accept and terminate telecommunications assistance.