TRC Seeking More Power
Legislation that would give the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) more teeth as it relates to holding service providers more accountable is being revised.
This disclosure was by Guy Malone, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the TRC.
The update about the legislation being in the pipeline was made during the Malone's appearance before the Standing Finance Committee (SFC).
During that appearance, the majority of the concerns about the telecommunications sector related to 'poor delivery' of services were put to the CEO of the TRC by Leader of the Opposition and Representative for the Eighth District Hon. Marlon Penn.
Hon. Penn noted that there was an ongoing concerns from persons in the Territory regarding the telecom providers where consumers were paying for services and feeling like they are not receiving what they paid for.
Therefore Hon. Penn asked what was TRC’s role in ensuring that the Consumer gets value for money and ensure that the providers are held accountable when they deliver subpar or no service to customers and ensure that this practice is addressed.
In response Malone explained that there was an issue with telecommunications where technology evolved and regulation followed. The TRC CEO noted that the Telecommunications Act had been in place since 2006.
He further explained that when the Act was written broadband internet was new here. Therefore Malone said that the Act needed to be amended in order for service providers to be held accountable, but this he noted was a tedious task.
Malone explained that with regards to internet and the challenges, the Commission was embarking on the process of renewing the operator’s license; because operators have a 15 year license which was beyond the TRC’s control.
Most important, the CEO noted that TRC was in the process of revising the legislation to present to the House of Assembly and have it pass.
They were also in the process of conducting a network audit and a compliance audit to bring the operators in line with what the TRC intended to do.
The update about the legislation being in the pipeline was made during the Malone's appearance before the Standing Finance Committee (SFC).
During that appearance, the majority of the concerns about the telecommunications sector related to 'poor delivery' of services were put to the CEO of the TRC by Leader of the Opposition and Representative for the Eighth District Hon. Marlon Penn.
Hon. Penn noted that there was an ongoing concerns from persons in the Territory regarding the telecom providers where consumers were paying for services and feeling like they are not receiving what they paid for.
Therefore Hon. Penn asked what was TRC’s role in ensuring that the Consumer gets value for money and ensure that the providers are held accountable when they deliver subpar or no service to customers and ensure that this practice is addressed.
In response Malone explained that there was an issue with telecommunications where technology evolved and regulation followed. The TRC CEO noted that the Telecommunications Act had been in place since 2006.
He further explained that when the Act was written broadband internet was new here. Therefore Malone said that the Act needed to be amended in order for service providers to be held accountable, but this he noted was a tedious task.
Malone explained that with regards to internet and the challenges, the Commission was embarking on the process of renewing the operator’s license; because operators have a 15 year license which was beyond the TRC’s control.
Most important, the CEO noted that TRC was in the process of revising the legislation to present to the House of Assembly and have it pass.
They were also in the process of conducting a network audit and a compliance audit to bring the operators in line with what the TRC intended to do.
