In 2013 the Government of The Bahamas published its National Energy Policy 2013 – 2033(NEP). A key objective of the NEP is to increase the sustainable renewable energy sources into the generation mix in The Bahamas. In this regard, the NEP aims to promote the use of renewable energy sources, energy conservation and energy efficiency in the generation, distribution and consumption of electricity throughout the country by residents, businesses and government. In 2015, by passage of the new Electricity Act 2015 (EA), the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority, (URCA) became the regulator for the electricity sector and is mandated to…
23 December 2019 Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GUIDELINES FOR DIGITAL TRANSITION: IDENTIFICATION OF AVAILABLE DIGITAL DIVIDEND SPECTRUM (ECS 73/2019) On 16 May 2018, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) published a Consultation Document under the caption Draft Guidelines for Digital Transition: Identification of Available Digital Dividend Spectrum (ECS 06/2018). URCA explained that the objectives of that consultation document were: To set out URCA’s considerations regarding digital television broadcasting, including relevant technical standards and proposed spectrum use;To set out protocols proposed by URCA to ensure an effective and efficient means of transitioning from analog television broadcasting to digital terrestrial…
13 December 2019 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR CONTENT REGULATION The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) today published its consultation document on its proposed revision to the Code of Practice for Content Regulation (“the Code”). The document includes URCA’s proposed revisions to Parts 6, 7 and 10 of the code which addresses Political Broadcasts and Political Advertisements, Advertising and Sponsorships, and the Complaints Handling Process. The revisions represent the combined work of URCA and the Content Regulation Industry Group (“CRIG”), a group of local broadcasters, which has been established under section…
6 December 2019 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE URCA issues final Determination and Order to Cable Bahamas Limited for Breaches of Retail Pricing Rules and Other Measures Today theUtilities Regulation and Competition Authority (‘URCA’) published a Final Determination and Order issued to Cable Bahamas Limited (‘CBL’) for breaches by CBL of the Consumer Protection Regulations and its Individual Operating Licence (IOL). On 14 June 2019, CBL replaced eight television channels, namely, USA, Freeform, TV Land, Sprout, Nicktoons, Hallmark, Independent Film Channel, and the Tennis Channel, from its REV TV line-up without giving customers the required advanced notice of the…
