U.S. Announces Support for Jennifer Warren for ITU Radio Regulations Board

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations’ specialized agency for information and communication technologies. It brings together 194 member states plus over 1,000 companies, universities, and organizations to:

• Coordinate international connectivity in communication networks
• Allocate global radio‑frequency spectrum and satellite orbits
• Develop technical standards so networks and devices work together worldwide
• Help expand access to digital technologies, especially in underserved regions.

The Radio Regulations Board (RRB) is a 12‑member expert body within the ITU that oversees how the global rules for using radio‑frequency spectrum and satellite orbits (the Radio Regulations) are applied. Its responsibilities include:

• Approving detailed “Rules of Procedure” that the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau uses when registering countries’ frequency and satellite filings
• Deciding difficult or disputed cases the Bureau cannot resolve under the rules
• Considering reports of harmful radio interference and making recommendations
• Hearing appeals from administrations against Radiocommunication Bureau decisions
• Advising ITU radiocommunication conferences and assemblies on regulatory issues Members serve part‑time, act independently, and usually meet up to four times a year in Geneva.

The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (often called “PP”) is the ITU’s highest decision‑making meeting, held every four years with all member states. It sets the Union’s overall policies and strategy and elects its leadership, including the 12 members of the Radio Regulations Board (RRB).

RRB elections at the Plenipotentiary Conference work as follows:

• Each ITU Member State may officially nominate one candidate for the RRB before a set deadline.
• Seats are allocated by world regions (2 each for the Americas, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe/Northern Asia; 3 each for Africa and Asia/Australasia).
• At the Conference, all Member States vote; the candidates with the highest number of votes in each region, up to that region’s seat limit, are elected for the next four‑year term.
• If there is a tie within a region, a special additional ballot is held; if a tie persists, the eldest candidate is chosen.

PP‑26 in Doha (November 2026) will follow these rules to elect the RRB for 2027–2030.

Jennifer A. Warren is a U.S. lawyer and telecom/space policy specialist with more than 35 years’ experience in government, industry, and academia.

Key roles:

• Industry: Long‑time executive at Lockheed Martin. She is currently Vice President, Civil & Regulatory Affairs (also described as Technology Policy & Regulation), leading the company’s U.S. civil‑government relationships and regulatory/policy strategy on spectrum, 5G, commercial space, aviation, and emerging technologies.
• U.S. Government: Previously held several senior positions at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC); has served on multiple federal advisory committees, including the Department of Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) and NASA Advisory Council’s Regulatory Policy Committee.
• International/governmental: Earlier worked for the European Union’s Commission in Brussels and Washington, D.C., focusing on EU–U.S. trade and related issues.
• Academia: Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching an annual course on international information and communications technology policy and regulation.

The State Department notes she has been an active participant in the ITU and other international bodies over this career.

In this context:

• “Spectrum” means the range of radio‑frequency waves used for wireless communication—everything from mobile phones, Wi‑Fi and TV/radio broadcasting to aircraft communication, GPS, and satellite links. Because many services share the same limited airwaves, spectrum must be carefully allocated and coordinated internationally to avoid interference.

• “Space matters” refers to radio use involving satellites and other space services: satellite communications, Earth‑observation and weather satellites, navigation systems (like GNSS), space research, and management of satellite orbits. Regulation covers how frequencies and orbits are assigned and shared so countries’ space systems can operate without harmful interference and with equitable access to these globally shared resources.

The ITU’s Radio Regulations are the binding international treaty that sets these rules for both spectrum and satellite orbits.

In ITU elections, “U.S. support” for a candidate generally means a formal national endorsement and active diplomatic backing, not just a casual statement.

In practice, this typically includes:

• Officially nominating the person as the United States’ candidate (for RRB, each Member State may submit one candidate).
• Publicly endorsing them in State Department releases and at ITU meetings.
• Using diplomatic outreach—embassies, bilateral meetings, coalition‑building—to encourage other countries to vote for that candidate, within ITU’s ethical campaign guidelines.

However, each ITU Member State still casts its own vote at the Plenipotentiary Conference, and the election rules give every state one vote. U.S. support does not control or reallocate other countries’ votes; it signals strong political backing and an organized campaign to secure them.