“To extend the benefits of the ‘Information Society’ to all, public policy in rapidly-evolving telecommunications technology must be shaped now…Policies for interconnectivity, capacity-building and security are needed to boost the public good that could arise from next-generation networks (NGN) and advanced broadband access,” said participants at the Telecommunication Policy Forum held in Lisbon, Portugal last month.
1. Our aim broadly is to pursue policies in the area of information communication technology broadly, but communications more particularly that promote the public good….
2. This aim was being pursued from we announced our interest in privatizing, then Batelco, now BTC in 1997 to the time we appointed a new Privatization Committee in March of 2008…IT IS THEREFORE CURIOUS TO HEAR THE MEMBER FOR WEST END CAST THIS PRESENT LEGISLATIVE EFFORT IN THE CONTEXT OF A “FIRESALE” OF BTC…
3. This administration understands the comprehensive and complex role played by communications in the socialization of our people, a role that embraces of aspects of human conduct and life: (i) Physical, especially as it relates to the archipelagic nature of our country, (ii) Psychological, (iii) Social, (iv) Economic, and (v) Political…
4. We especially understand the increasingly potent role being played by communications technology in a modern and ever modernizing world, where the convergence of technology to increase the rapidity with which we have access to information and the extent to which this ability can be used to generate commerce and therefore spark economic growth and development must be a core element of our national development strategy…
5. This is the context in which these Bills broadly come to the Parliament which the narrower context being establishing a suitable regulatory environment for a privatized BTC to operate and a liberalized sector to be promoted…
6. The Communications Bills before us are quite involved but I propose to cover just three aspects, namely:
a. The Licensing Provisions;
b. The Radio Spectrum Management;
c. The Universal Service Provisions; and
d. The Content Regulations.
I COMMEND THE PRIVATIZATION COMMITTEE AND ITS PROFESSIONAL TEAM FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK DONE ON THESE BILLS…
7. The Licensing Provisions are dealt with in Part IV, Sections 16 – 28 of the Bill. Essentially the Bill makes it illegal to establish, maintain and operate a network or provide a carriage service, including by use of any radio spectrum without the permission of the URCA, unless otherwise exempt under the provisions of the Bill. Licenses granted by URCA can be granted individually or in a class and without our without conditions. Licenses issued by URCA can be modified, varied, restrictive or be revoked under certain conditions…
8. Radio Spectrum Management is provided for in Part V, Sections 29 – 38. It calls for URCA to have the exclusive management of the Radio Spectrum of the country, the Spectrum being a state asset and to manage same in accordance with policies outlined by the Minister…NOTE ON MINISTERS…
9. The Universal Service Provisions of the Bill are found in Part VII, Sections 41- 44. It essentially empowers the minister to designate certain universal services and service obligations to be provided by players in the market…INTER-CONNECTIVITY IS CRITICAL TO THIS PROCESS…This is essentially an effort to provide some baseline set of services to all citizens and to allow for that service to be provided through some subsidy where the cost is prohibitive…
10. Content Regulation is covered in Part IX, Sections 52-59 of the Bill. This is not the broad censorship that raises flags in many liberal environments but rather the aim of balancing public safety with a free media…
URCA will be a powerful regulator, regulating a powerful sector…It will require professionals to act professionally and to be well resourced with funds generated from the regulated sectors…