XN000022-1984-01-06 — Page 6

-

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1984

NEW LEGISLATION PROVIDES FOR COMPETITION

****

AS A FURTHER STEP TOWARDS PROVIDING FOR COMPETITION IN TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES, NEW SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION COMES INTO FORCE TODAY, A POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED.

HE RECALLED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD MADE IT KNOWN IN DECEMBER 1982 THAT CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT WHICH WERE NOT PART OF THE PUBLIC TELEPHONE SERVICE, WOULD BE OPEN TO COMPETITION PROGRESSIVELY WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1, 1983.

THE TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1984 PROVIDES INTER ALIA, FOR

* THE GRANT OF PUBLIC NON-EXCLUSIVE TELECOMMUNICATION LICENCES BY THE TELECOMMUNICATION AUTHORITY AND THE FEES PAYABLE ON THE GRANT OR RENEWAL OF THIS TYPE OF LICENCE

* POWERS FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATION AUTHORITY TO ENSURE THAT

TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT IS USED PROPERLY BY PERSONS LEGALLY IN POSSESSION OF SUCH EQUIPMENT; AND

* A LICENSEE TO OFFER A PUBLIC NON-EXCLUSIVE TELECOMMUNICATION

SERVICE, AND TO POSSESS, USE, DEAL IN AND MAINTAIN THE REQUISITE APPARATUS FOR THE SERVICE.

THE NEW REGULATIONS DO NOT ALLOW FOR THE RENEWAL OF PUBLIC NON-EXCLUSIVE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE LICENCES BEYOND JUNE 30,

1995.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THIS PROVISION HAD BEEN MADE, BECAUSE, UNDER THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY WAS AUTHORISED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION UP TO THAT DATE.

IT WAS ANTICIPATED, HE ADDED, THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD WISH TO CARRY OUT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE EXPIRY OF THE TELEPHONE COMPANY'S FRANCHISE. OF ALL INTERNAL PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES, IT WAS LOGICAL THEREFORE TO STIPULATE, IN THE NEW REGULATIONS, A DETERMINATION DATE FOR THE NEW CATEGORY OF LICENCE.

IT WAS ALSO REASONABLE THAT ALL PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS LIMITATION FROM THE OUTSET.

THE TELECOMMUNICATION (PUBLIC NON-EXCLUSIVE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE CUSTOMERS) (EXEMPTION FROM LICENSING) ORDER 1984, AS ITS TITLE INDICATES, EXEMPTS CUSTOMERS OF PUBLIC NON-EXCLUSIVE SERVICES FROM THE NEED TO OBTAIN THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL LICENCES.

+THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESENT POSITION IN LAW OF CUSTOMERS OF EXCLUSIVE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES WHO ARE ALREADY EXEMPTED FROM LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, HE SAID.

/6