The universal provision
of basic telecommunication services,
including television broadcasting,
has been a
long held policy
objective in The
Bahamas. This means
the provision of
reasonable access to
a baseline level
of services to
all persons in
the country, regardless
of income status
and geographical reach.
The
Communications Act (2009)
designates the Bahamas
Telecommunications Company (BTC) and
Cable Bahamas Limited (CBL) as universal service providers, with the following
obligations:
BTC
• Basic dial‐up internet services to all
populated areas
• Basic dial‐up internet services free of
charge to specified institutions
• Basic telephone services to all populated areas
• Public access to pay apparatus [pay phones]
CBL
• Basic
television services to
all populated areas
[comprising six channels
including ZNS
Channel 13 and the Parliamentary channel]
• Internet services to all populated areas
• Basic television services to specified institutions [free
of charge]
• Internet services free of charge to specified institutions
Until June 29,
2012, The Utilities
Regulation and Competition
Authority (URCA) is
conducting a public
consultation on these
existing universal service
obligations. URCA invites
all interested persons
to participate and
weigh‐in with any
questions, comments and/or
concerns regarding these
obligations,including any suggestions on how they may be revised to
better serve the needs of residents.
A consultation
document is available
for public review
and comment. It
discusses a range
of issues.For instance, what
measures should be taken to ensure persons with disabilities might be able to
access telecommunication services in
the same way
as persons without
disabilities? What should
be the eligibility
for an institution
to qualify as
a “specified institution”
and receive the
above noted services free of charge? What measures should be taken to ensure that no unfair burden is placed on providers in delivery of these universal serviceobligations?
For a copy of the consultation document, visit the URCA website www.urcabahamas.com or go to http://www.urcabahamas.bs/news.php?cmd=view&id=159; or telephone URCA offices today, 393 0234, family islands toll free at 1 800 300 8722. The deadline to submit responses is June29,2012.
