Minister Rejects Bill Proposing Mobile Regulation

Chile's transport and telecommunications minister Sergio Espejo has rejected a draft bill sent to congress proposing to give telecoms regulator Subtel the authority to regulate mobile tariffs, local press reported.

Chilean deputies, led by Jaime Mulet, last week sent the proposal aimed at eliminating the phrase "excluding mobile telephony" within an article in telecommunications law that gives the regulator the authorization to set prices for fixed line telephony.

However, "the government's policy is focused on stimulating market development and improving its supervisory capabilities and not on regulating prices to consumers. The best way to provide a good service is through a more competitive market," Espejo said.

The minister also said the government plans to send in early 2007 a draft bill proposing the creation of a telecom sector supervisor to regulate the quality of services and act as a dispute resolution body.

Espejo spoke after a meeting with Chilean senator Jorge Pizarro in which they set the guidelines to design a connectivity map aimed at determining the telecommunications needs in different parts of Chile, particularly in rural areas.

Speaking this week to BNamericas, Chilean analyst Roberto Gurovich criticized the draft bill saying it would kill competition as all operators would opt to charge the maximum fees approved.

BNAmericas.com"

Posted to the site on 13th September 2006