NTRC to consult on recommendations to amend telecoms fees for new satellite services

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) is commencing a Public Consultation based on a recommendation from the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) to consult on the Recommendation to Amend the Telecommunications (Fees) Regulations for the Member States for new Satellite Services.

The NTRC said in a release that the objective of this consultation is to review and make recommendations on the best regime to be adopted by ECTEL in the pricing of radio frequency applications for satellite communications and an appropriate fee structure for Very Small Aperture Terminal (“VSAT”) and Satellite Earth Station (“SES”) services in the ECTEL Member States. It examines in detail the pricing or fee structures which have been adopted by several regional regulators, as well as the United States of America’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its Satellite Services.

The comments received from the stakeholders on this consultation will then be taken into consideration by ECTEL prior to preparing the Proposed Amendment to the Telecommunications (Fees) Regulations for adoption by the ECTEL member states.

To facilitate this consultation process, a consultative document on the Recommendation to Amend the Telecommunications (Fees) Regulations for the Member States for new Satellite Services in the ECTEL member states has been prepared by ECTEL. These documents are available in electronic format on our website and can be accessed by clicking the following link:

Also, hard copies can be obtained at our office located on the 2nd Floor of the NIS Building on Upper Bay Street, Kingstown.

As a stakeholder in the sector, we are requesting your comments on the consultative document. This consultation runs from 1st December 2021 to 14th December 2021. As such, all initial comments must be submitted by December 14, 2021.

The Comment on Comments period will run from 16th December 2021 to 22nd December 2021.