February 2, 2012, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) published its final decision of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited’s (BTC) February 21, 2011 application for a permanent price change to local directory enquiry services. Approval for a per call retail charge of thirty five cents (35¢), for calls originating on BTC’s network, was granted with various conditions. Including: The first three (3) calls each month, from fixed lines (residential and business) and mobile numbers to local directory assistance services shall be free of charge All enquiries from public pay phones shall be free of charge BTC shall publish and…
With the publication of a “Draft Policy for New Spectrum Bands – 700MHz, 11GHz, 12GHz and 42GHz” (document reference number ECS 01/2012), today the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) launched a public consultation on the drafting of policy to regulate a planned opening of spectrum bands. This consultative policy review exercise is the fourth in a seven-step process initiated in October 2010. Earlier steps included industry consultations to assess sector interest in and demand for the proposed band opening. Last May 2011, URCA published a statement of the results arising from these early consultations (document reference number ECS 10/2011,…
Today, URCA issued a Public Notice extending the timeframe for interested persons to submit a response to its consultation document - Publication of Regulatory (Separated) Accounts (ECS 21/2011) published on November 22, 2011. The Notice can be viewed by clicking on the PDF document below. Downloads Public Notice - Extension of deadline for responses to consultation on publication of regulatory accounts
URCA has observed public advertisements regarding the provision of electronic communications services, particularly voice services, in The Bahamas by persons not licensed by URCA under the Communications Act, 2009 to provide such services. URCA advises that consumers should be aware of the risks of using services by unlicensed operators and further advises that it is an offence under section 16 of the Communications Act for any person to establish, maintain and operate a network or provide a carriage service in The Bahamas, including by use of radio spectrum, without a licence. A public register of licensed operators is available in…
