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Communications, the Media and Information Technology
To ensure a uniform application of fair usage policy (FUP) by fixed and mobile broadband service providers and to enhance customers' understanding of FUP so as to enable them to compare the different offers in the market and to make informed subscription decisions, the OFCA's mandatory guidelines governing how service providers should implement FUP took effect from February 2012, with full compliance by fixed and mobile broadband services. providers.
To resolve billing disputes in deadlock between telecommunications service providers and their customers, the telecommunications industry launched a Customer Complaint Settlement Scheme (CCSS) for a trial period of two years from November 2012 with funding support from the OFCA. The CCSS seeks to resolve the disputes through mediation, which is more efficient, effective and less costly than formal litigation.
International Activities
Hong Kong continues to be an active player in international telecommunications forums. In addition to being a member of the Mainland delegation to conferences and meetings organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Hong Kong participates as an independent member at meetings of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and the Telecommunications and Information Working Group of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co- operation (APEC). During 2012, Hong Kong attended 26 conferences and meetings held by the ITU, APT and APEC. Hong Kong was the chair of the APT Working Group on international mobile roaming between 2010 and 2012.
Broadcasting
Hong Kong is a forerunner in the adoption of advanced broadcasting technologies. The Government's broadcasting policy objectives are to widen programme choice and diversity through competition, to facilitate the introduction of new, innovative broadcasting services and to enhance Hong Kong's position as a regional broadcasting hub.
To achieve these objectives, Hong Kong adopts a facilitating and pro-competition approach to promote the application of various innovative broadcasting technologies, and provides a liberalised and light-handed regulatory environment for new broadcasting services to flourish. This allows Hong Kong to enter into a new era of broadcasting, with broadened programming choice and innovative services available to the viewing and listening public. At the end of 2012, Hong Kong had some 700 satellite and pay television channels available in digital format, and was the world leader in deploying Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology, with some one million subscribers. There were also 17 licensed satellite television broadcasters providing more than 200 channels for the Asia-Pacific region. The two terrestrial television broadcasters launched digital broadcasting officially in December 2007. By the end of 2012, there were a total of 15 free-to-air television channels (four analogue and 11 digital free TV channels). Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), Hong Kong's public service broadcaster, produces programmes of public interest for broadcast on free and pay TV channels. There are three radio stations, including two commercial operators and RTHK, providing a total of 13 analogue channels in Hong Kong. In 2012, three commercial operators (including one existing licensee providing
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