The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) submits for public consultation a draft decision on amending and completing the IGCTI President’s Decision no.686/2005, a normative act which regulates the charging procedure and the annual tariffs charged for the use of the radio spectrum.
In order to support the implementation of the digital television within the deadline for the analogue television switch off, the draft decision launched for public consultation by ANCOM provides halving the tariff for the use of the radio spectrum for 2010-2011, for the future holders of licences for the use of radio frequencies in terrestrial digital television system. In addition, the draft decision establishes a lower tariff owed by operator of the multiplex allotted at a national level which broadcasts the public television programmes proportionally to the bandwidth necessary for their provision, in accordance with the Audiovisual Law.
Given the necessity of speeding up the process of adoption of the ANCOM President’s draft decision, which is closely connected to the terms established for the procedure of granting licences for the use of radio frequencies in terrestrial digital television system, the Authority launches for public consultation this regulatory measure under emergency regime and, thus, establishes a 10-day public consultation period.
“Today, we submit this regulatory measure for a public consultation under emergency regime, out of reasons related to the transparency of the tariff for the use of spectrum, given that the selection procedures organised for granting the licences for the use of the radio frequencies in the digital terrestrial television system have already begun. Therefore, before submitting their offers, the possible tenderers need to consider all the legislative requirements which impose obligations on the future licence holders”, Catalin Marinescu, the president of ANCOM, said.
The amendments and completions to the IGCTI President’s Decision no.686/2005 also concern the tariff for the use of the radio spectrum to be paid by the licence holders which are to provide wireless mobile communications services on ships, i.e. MCV (Mobile Communications on Vessels), the amount proposed by the regulatory authority being similar to the one established for the MCA (Mobile Communications on Aircraft) services.
As per the CGC systems (complementary ground components) associated to the systems which provide electronic communications services in the mobile satellite service (MMS) in the 1980-2010 MHz/2170-2200 MHz bands, the draft decision provides that the tariff for the use of the radio spectrum be subtracted from the one established for UMTS mobile cellular telephone networks, considering that the technology used, the radio frequency bands and the manner of providing mobile communications services over these systems are similar.
The draft decision is available for consultation on the ANCOM website, here. The interested persons are invited to send their comments and suggestions, by 16.07.2010, at the ANCOM headquarters in 2 Delea Noua Street, Bucharest 3, or directly to the Authority’s Registry Office. Comments and recommendations may also be sent by fax to +40 372 845 404 or by e-mail to consultare@ancom.org.ro.