Nassau, The Bahamas – (4 December 2024) – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (‘URCA’) issues the consultation document outlining the proposed revisions to the Retail Pricing Rules.

URCA recently completed a market review of key retail fixed electronic communications services markets, covering retail fixed voice, retail fixed broadband, and retail pay TV services. URCA published its Statement of Results and Final Determination of the Retail Fixed Market Review1 on 1 August 2024.

As part of the market review, URCA confirmed the continued need for ex-ante regulation on The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (‘BTC’) and (‘CBL’) in retail fixed service markets meaning that specified regulatory obligations, also referred to as remedies, will remain in place to prevent problems before they occur.

As one of the market review’s outcomes, URCA revised the set of ex-ante remedies imposed on both SMP operators. The new regulatory obligations focus on the following requirements for BTC and CBL:

• to continue to supply standalone retail fixed services; and
• to apply for URCA’s approval for above-inflation price increases of entry-level retail tariff plans. To implement these ex-ante remedies, URCA has developed revised (and simplified) Retail Pricing Rules which are set out in the accompanying document. These Rules are intended to provide further guidance on the actions required for each retail fixed service (in terms of notification, filing and approval requirements) and the procedures for these actions. URCA’s proposed revisions to the Retail Pricing Rules seek to:

• structure the Retail Pricing Rules in a comprehensive, clear, and accessible manner;
• clarify procedural aspects and information requirements from relevant operators to mitigate any inefficiencies in URCA’s investigations and assessments; and

• ensure the Retail Pricing Rules are up-to-date (in terms of the revised ex-ante remedies set out in ECS 71/2024) and fit for purpose, considering increased competition in the relevant markets.

URCA invites responses to this Consultation Document from all stakeholders and interested persons. Please note that responses to this Consultation Document must be submitted to URCA on or before 5:00 p.m. on 31 January 2025.

Written responses or comments on this Consultation Document should be sent to URCA’s Director of Electronic Communications:

• by mail to P.O. Box N 4860, Nassau, The Bahamas; or
• by email, to info@urcabahamas.bs.
  

The document is available at www.urcabahamas.bs.

About URCA: The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing the electronic communications, broadcasting, and electricity sectors in The Bahamas. URCA aims to promote competition, fair pricing, and innovation within these industries for the benefit of all Bahamians.

For further information, please contact:
Juan McCartney
Corporate and Consumer Relations Manager Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority 1 (242) 395-5242 jmccartney@urcabahamas.bs

ECS 76/2024 REGULATION OF RETAIL PRICE FOR SMP OPERATORS – RULES OF RETAIL PRICE FOR SMP OPERATORS – RULES – Consultation Document

REGULATION OF RETAIL PRICES FOR SMP OPERATORS – RULES – Draft Rules