17 August 2020

PRESS RELEASE

URCA issues Statement of Results and Final Decision on Revision Of The Code Of Practice For Content Regulation (ECS 07/2020) and the Revised Code Of Practice For Content Regulation (ECS 08/2020)

Today, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”) issues its Statement of Results and Final Decision on Revision Of The Code Of Practice For Content Regulation (ECS 07/2020) document and the Revised Code Of Practice For Content Regulation (ECS 08/2020) document.

On 13 December 2019, URCA published and thereby initiated its public consultation process on the Proposed Revision of the Code of Practice for Content Regulation – ECS 72/2019 (‘the Consultation Document’). During this process, members of the public, stakeholders and other interested parties were given the opportunity to comment on the proposed revisions to Part 6 – Political Broadcasts and Political Advertisements, Part 7- Advertising and Sponsorships and Part 10 – Complaints Handling Process of the Code of Practice for Content Regulation. URCA’s consultation process concluded on 31 January 2020. At the close of this period, URCA was disappointed with the low number of responses from the public, stakeholders and other interested parties to the Consultation Document. To ensure that the consultation was as comprehensive and inclusive as possible, URCA extended the Response Date to 28 February 2020. At the close of the extended period, URCA received written submissions from the following Respondents:

• Cable Bahamas Ltd.;
• The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited; and
• Sears & Co. (instructed by Playtech Systems Ltd. (Playtech) d/b/a “Island Luck”). 

There were meritorious Constitutional and other issues proffered by the Respondents that required careful consideration and expert legal advice. As such, obtaining such advice inevitably delayed the issuance of this Statement of Results and Final Decision and the Revised Code. The Statement of Results and Final Decision on the Revision Of The Code Of Practice For Content Regulation now provides URCA’s comments on the responses received and sets out URCA’s Final Decision on the matters contained therein.

The standalone Revised Code of Practice for Content Regulation (‘the Revised Code’) document sets out the revised content code of practice that is to be observed by Licensees providing audiovisual media services in The Bahamas. The Revised Code repeals and replaces any Code of Practice for Content Regulation issued by URCA prior to the date of issuance of the Revised Code.

The full text of the Consultation Document, the Statement of Results and Final Decision and the Revised Code be found here.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mavis Johnson-Collie

Corporate and Consumer Relations Manager

Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority

Telephone: (242) 396-5201

Facsimile: (242) 393-0153

Email: mjcollie@urcabahamas.bs

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