FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 26, 2010

TIA Files Comments to USTR Supporting a Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

TIA Advocates for Inclusion in the Multilateral TPP Trade and Regulatory Principles that Will Benefit the ICT Sector, Including Technology Neutrality, Mutual Recognition Agreements, and Independent Regulatory Bodies

Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, officially filed comments with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) supporting a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, which includes countries Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

"The Asia-Pacific region is the largest telecommunications market in the world and holds tremendous opportunity for growth," remarked Grant Seiffert, TIA President. "TIA supports a free trade agreement with the TPP countries and would like to see USTR build upon its efforts in the future and extend it to include other countries in the region."

In the filing, TIA specifically urges the TPP to include commitments by countries to sign the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Information Technology and Government Procurement Agreements, establish an independent telecommunications regulator if one does not exist. TIA also encourages TPP countries to establish Mutual Recognition Agreements under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) framework. Supporting the inclusion of these market-oriented, technology neutral principles in the final agreement will help build a strong, global, digital economy based on quality infrastructure, network of services, and a solid legal and commercial framework.

TIA's Trans-Pacific Partnership submission is available on its USTR filings page at tiaonline.org.

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Since 1924, TIA has been enhancing the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment.

TIA co-owns the SUPERCOMM^® tradeshow  and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., and Verari Systems. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

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