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| More Questions (from meetings held in 2004) |
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The NTRC and ECTEL held community meetings "Telecommunications in the sub-region" in January 2004 to sensitize the public about the functions of both organizations. The meetings were also used to gain feedback as well as to clear up any misunderstandings between the public and the role of the NTRC and ECTEL with respect to our telecommunication providers.
Below is a list of some questions posed at the meetings: 1. Why is it that there are only five countries making up ECTEL? How are they coping with ECTEL? 2. How is ECTEL funded? 3. Who determines the use of cell phones in certain places? 4. Clarity on the issue of dominance. What are the disadvantages and advantages to the consumer? 5. C&W is a dominant provider - could that be the reason why rates are so high? 6. What would happen if a new provider becomes dominant? 7. Should the providers of telecommunication services determine that they are dominant or should it be the responsibility of the consumer? 8. Does the NTRC have any input in the way bills are prepared? Need to see list of calls made to fixed line persons on the bill. 9. Are there any other providers that have a licence for fixed line? What will be the difference in cost for the other proposed fixed line services and how have competition affected rates? 10. Is there any regulation set out to regulate the cost of fixed lines? 11. Are the rates in the other islands the same? 12. Are there any plans for Cable & Wireless to compensate consumers for charging for internet services and the fixed line is not working? 13. Will Karib Cable be using Cable & Wireless infrastructure? 14. Is it right for Cable & Wireless to classify schools as commercial business and charge them as such for line rental? 15. Why do we have so many towers installed? 16. Can the NTRC facilitate the dismantling of erected towers? 17. What is the meaning of international simple voice resale licence? Q. Why is it that there are only five countries making up ECTEL? How are they coping with ECTEL? A. The other islands making up the OECS are Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, and the British Virgin Islands. At the time of the formation of the Telecommunications Reform Project that gave birth to the ECTEL treaty, Antigua did not join because of outstanding commitments to the World Bank while Anguilla, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands as dependent states were not eligible for direct funding from the World Bank. Q. How is ECTEL funded? A. ECTEL is funded from the collection of spectrum fees in the five ECTEL contracting states. Q. Who determines the use of cell phones in certain places? The owner determines whether or not cell phone use is allowed. Q. Clarity on the issue of dominance. What are the disadvantages and advantages to the consumer? Dominance refers to the issue where a provider does not have significant competition (possibly no competition) with respect to a given service, for example Cable & Wireless fixed line services. Once the provider agrees to the designation of “Dominant” then the prices for that service will be regulated by the Commission. The designation of dominant ensures that the tariff charged for that particular service by the provider has to be approved by the Commission. This is to ensure that consumers are protected from unfair prices in services where there is not effective competition. Q. C&W is a dominant provider could that be the reason why rates are so high? To date Cable & Wireless has been designated dominant in the following services: Monthly line rental, Domestic and Fixed to mobile calls on its own network and network connection and reconnection. Therefore only these services are regulated to date. The rates charged by Cable & Wireless for other services are filed with the NTRC but not regulated. Q. What would happen if a new provider becomes dominant? Being designated “dominant” relates mainly to a providers market share. So a new provider can become dominant if it acquires a large enough market share in a service. This new provider will be subject to the same regulatory process with regards to that service as would be an incumbent provider like Cable & Wireless. Q. Should the providers of telecommunication services determine that they are dominant or should it be the responsibility of the consumer? The processes for determining dominance is laid out in the Telecommunications (Tariff) regulations. The procedures for some of the processes allow for public consultation. Q. Does the NTRC have any input in the way bills are prepared? Need to see list of calls made to fixed line persons on the bill. The NTRC does not have any control over how bills are prepared. In the case where a customer requires a service such as the ability to see a list of calls then the customer needs to take the matter up with the provider. Q. Are there any other providers that have a licence for fixed line? What will be the difference in cost for the other proposed fixed line services and how have competition affected rates? Karib Cable has been issued a licence to provide fixed line services. The difference in cost is yet to be seen, but one can assume since competition in the mobile sector has reduced rates from $1.10 / per minute to as low as $0.49 / per minute at certain times, then competition for fixed line services can also bring about price reductions. Q. Is there any regulation set out to regulate the cost of fixed lines? Fixed line calls and fixed to mobile calls are regulated services. Q. Are the rates in the other islands the same? Islands that are signatories to the ECTEL treaty and which were also part of the May 20, 2002 agreement with cable & Wireless have similar rates for services. Q. Are there any plans for Cable & Wireless to compensate consumers for charging for internet services and the fixed line is not working? It is the responsibility of Cable & Wireless to treat it customers fairly and not charge them for services they do not have access to. In the event that the customer has been wrongfully charged, then they must first take their complaint to the provider. If no redress is forthcoming then a complaint can be filed at the NTRC. (The NTRC’s and ECTEL are in the process of formulating consumer complaint resolution processes.) Q. Will Karib Cable be using Cable & Wireless infrastructure? Karib Cable intends to use as much of its infrastructure as possible. However all providers under the Telecommunications Act can utilize the infrastructure of other providers as long as it is technically feasible. Q. Is it right for Cable & Wireless to classify schools as commercial business and charge them as such for line rental? Presently there are two regulated rates for monthly line rental, Residential and Commercial. The schools are clearly not residential customers as such they would have to fall under the commercial category unless the company uses it discretion to charge a lower rate. Q. Why do we have so many towers installed? The new providers were given the go ahead to erect their own towers to ensure viable competition in the shortest time possible. It was believed that if a new provider had to make an agreement with the incumbent provider (in this case Cable & Wireless) to share towers then it may prolong the time taken for the new providers to offer its services. It should also be noted that a number of towers are currently shared. There are towers that host both Digicel and AT&T while a number of towers are occupied by both mobile operators, Radio, TV and Cable TV providers. Q. Can the NTRC facilitate the dismantling of erected towers? The erection of towers are approved by the physical planning Board and not the NTRC. The NTRC only assign the frequencies to be used on the towers. Q. What is the meaning of international simple voice resale licence? This licence allows the holder of the licence to offer international calls to consumers via the networks of a licenced provider. Examples of these are phone booth and phone card operators. |
| Last Updated on Sunday, 10 January 2010 20:39 |
