ECS 09/2017 Review of the Resale Broadband Obligation imposed on BTC and CBL
The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has today published its Preliminary Determination on the Review of the Resale Broadband Obligation imposed on BTC and CBL under Section 116 and Schedule 4 of the Communications Act, 2009 (ECS 09/2017).
This Preliminary Determination sets out URCA’s preliminary views on the prevailing need for The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd. (“BTC”) and Cable Bahamas Ltd. (“CBL”) to continue to offer a resale fixed broadband product and the need for both operators to update their current product offerings to ensure these are fit-for-purpose and in line with market developments. Furthermore, this document has the following core objectives:
- To set forth URCA’s preliminary findings of its SMP assessment of the market(s) for the provisioning of wholesale broadband services in The Bahamas.
- To set forth URCA’s proposed SMP obligations for each of these markets (i.e., the resale fixed broadband obligation), and the rationale for this proposed ex-ante regulatory remedy.
- To set forth the need for both SMP operators to review and revise their current resale fixed broadband products.
- To invite comments from stakeholders on URCA’s proposals.
URCA encourages all interested parties, including the named licensees to make written submissions on the consultation. Initial responses on this Preliminary Decision should be submitted to URCA by 5 p.m. on 15 January 2018. Interested parties will then have the opportunity to further comment on submissions made by other respondents by 14 February 2018.
Written responses or comments on this Preliminary Determination should be sent to URCA’s Director of Policy and Regulation (Acting), either:
- By hand, to URCA’s office at Frederick House, Frederick Street, Nassau; or
- By mail to P.O. Box N-4860, Nassau, Bahamas; or
- By fax, to (242) 393-0153; or
- By email, to info@urcabahamas.bs.
The full Preliminary Determination document can be found below.
