Researching the Regulation of Telegraphy

Following both World Summits on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003 and 2005, today the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is still striving to find its role in Internet regulation. Given the issues at stake, it does not come as a surprise that most debates about the possibility of the ITU exerting more influence on the future of the Internet revolve around current affairs. However, they often lack historical perspectives on telecommunication regulation in general and the ITU in particular. A short memory is not the best basis for far-sighted policies.

Based in Geneva, the ITU is the oldest international organization in the UN family. Its direct ancestry goes back to the International Telegraph Union which was founded in 1865. It is remarkable how little scholarly interest the roots of that institution have attracted in the past.

At the current stage of my PhD project, I am dealing with the regulation of telegraphy in the mid-19th century - prior to the ITU. Studying telegraph-related international negotiations and treaties furthers an understanding of relevant issues, motivations and existing conflicts of interest.

Despite the known, fundamental technological differences, 19th century telegraphy was a historical precursor of today’s Internet. And a descendant of the primary institution regulating international telegraphy nearly 150 years ago is a major regulator of international telecommunication today, seeking a bigger say on the future of the Internet. By shedding some more light on the history of questions we face today, my research may provide historical perspectives to current debates.