American Bogdan-Martin Elected as First Woman to Lead ITU

Doreen Bogdan-Martin easily won election as secretary-general of the ITU Thursday, winning 139 votes to 25 for Russian Rashid Ismailov at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest, Romania. The win was expected (see 2209280046), but industry officials said they were surprised by the size of the victory. Bogdan-Martin becomes the first woman to head the ITU and first American since 1965. She had led the ITU Telecom Development Bureau, after being elected to that post in 2018.

Tomas Lamanauskas of Lithuania was elected deputy secretary-general, with 105 votes, compared with 59 for South Korea’s Chaesub Lee and 12 for Samoa’s Gisa Fuatai Purcell. Other top posts at ITU are still to be decided.

In many ways, the election “mirrors the dynamics of 1959” when American Gerald Gross was elected, said Anthony Rutkowski, a former counselor to two secretaries-general and a former chief of the Relations Between Members Division: “Both had served in senior ITU elected positions for some years,” he said: “Doreen began there in the 1990s. … Like Gross, her knowledge of what is a complex organization was learned firsthand over 25 some years. In the 1950s, Russia had similarly become a kind of pariah nation engaged in tearing the ITU apart.” Rutkowski said Bogdan-Martin did even better than expected.

The size of the victory “beat the odds,” emailed Rob Frieden, Penn State University emeritus professor of telecommunications and law. “Increased politicization at the ITU” bolstered “the likelihood for bloc voting, especially by the Lesser Developed Nations as led by Brazil,” he said. Frieden was pleased “to see a possible mandate for the ITU to ‘stick to its knitting,’ i.e., its core mission of standard setting, spectrum management, and development.” he said.

Frieden warned that the replacement of former Secretary-General Houlin Zhao of China could “motivate that country's delegation to adopt ‘wolf warrior’ tactics at future conferences to confront the U.S. and block initiatives in retaliation for the FCC's decertification of Chinese carrier licenses and blacklisting Chinese equipment.”

“The world is facing significant challenges -- escalating conflicts, a climate crisis, food security, gender inequalities, and 2.7 billion people with no access to the internet,” Bogdan-Martin said Thursday: “I believe we, the ITU and our members, have an opportunity to make a transformational contribution. Continuous innovation can and will be a key enabler to facilitate resolution of many of these issues."

Bogdan-Martin's election was “a team effort,” FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said during the FCC commissioners' meeting Thursday. “The resources marshaled across the U.S. government” were “truly impressive,” said Starks, who called into the FCC meeting from Bucharest. Work by the FCC International Bureau has been “tremendous, tireless and impressive,” he said. Starks noted some will return home this week, but the work of the plenipotentiary is just beginning.

The Biden administration made clear since it started that “American leadership in multilateral venues, including the United Nations, is crucial to ensuring the international community is best positioned to address our shared challenges,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “U.S. support for Ms. Bogdan-Martin’s campaign reflects a renewed determination by the United States to ensure that international organizations are well-run, responsive to their memberships, and accountable for their performances,” he said.

New Beginning

“This marks a new beginning for ITU,” Zhao tweeted Thursday: “Let this be an inspiration for more women and girls to make their contribution to our industry.”

"This is not just a victory for Doreen but for all who care about open, free, interoperable, and secure communications technology,” said NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson: “We are particularly grateful to see the breadth of support for Doreen’s election from around the world. Doreen earned that support over the course of her long ITU tenure by consistently demonstrating her ability to think big, build partnerships, and deliver on major development goals.”

“At a time when almost one-third of the world lacks broadband access, she has the experience, skills, and dedication to help the ITU drive greater broadband access in all countries,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “Four years ago, she became the first woman elected to a leadership position in the 157-year history of the ITU, a role I’m familiar with as the first permanent chairwoman of the FCC.”

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and other lawmakers hailed Bogdan-Martin’s election. “ITU members overwhelmingly made the right choice today by electing” Bogdan-Martin, said House Commerce Committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. “This is a huge moment for American tech leadership and the future of a free and open internet across the globe. I am confident that in this role Doreen will lead the agency in a way that ensures values like openness, transparency, and connectivity for all are upheld around the world.” Rodgers and other House Commerce leaders backed Bogdan-Martin in May (see 2205090063).

“I look forward to working with her,” Cantwell said Thursday. She endorsed Bogdan-Martin’s candidacy Wednesday night, saying it’s “critical to have a leader with a proven commitment to an inclusive, open internet and universal connectivity” leading the ITU. Bogdan-Martin “has the values, expertise and extensive experience on the global telecommunications stage necessary to help guide our digital future,” Cantwell said.

Senate Commerce ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., also backed Bogdan-Martin Wednesday night. “With 30 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, Ms. Bodgan-Martin has shown a deep commitment to achieving universal connectivity and has a proven track record of strategic and innovative leadership,” he said.

"I look forward to the work you'll do to ensure a democratic and secure digital future for all," House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said in a tweet from panel Republicans. Her election over Ismailov is "a huge win for digital freedom and opportunity across the world.”

“Throughout her career and candidacy, Doreen has demonstrated that she is the right person for this critical job,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker. Bogdan-Martin’s “passion for expanding broadband access to reach the underserved populations around the world is just one example of why she is the right person for this important role,” said the Telecommunications Industry Association. Her cooperative model of leadership was "ably demonstrated in her current role as the Director of the ITU Development Bureau, as well as her earlier service to the ITU and its Members,” said Chris Pearson, president of 5G Americas.