1. Regulation and Competition: Telecommunications in the Dominican Republic
Conference of the Caribbean/Latin American Action:
Free Trade and Integration: Implications for the Caribbean Basin
December 5th, 2001
Hotel Intercontinental
Miami, Florida
Lic. Orlando Jorge Mera
President
Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones
(INDOTEL)

2. Telecoms Law No. 153-98 INDOTEL’s Role Conclusions
AGENDA
Telecoms Law No
INDOTEL’s Role
Conclusions

3. Telecoms Law No. 153-98 Enacted May 27th, 1998
Creates a regulator with functional, jurisdictional and financial autonomy
Convergent regulation applicable to the following sectors: telephony, radio, TV and cable

4. Telecoms Law No. 153-98 Objectives of Public and Social Interest
Promote the development of telecommunications
Ensure fair, efficient and sustainable competition
Protect consumers rights
Manage the spectrum efficiently
Promote Universal Service

5. INDOTEL’s Role Promote Investments Establish Policies and Norms
Supervise Service Providers
Defend Consumers
Manage the Spectrum
Solve Controversies
Administer the Telecommunications Development Fund

6. CONSUMERS INVESTMENT POLICIES & NORMS
SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT
POLICIES & NORMS
SUPERVISION
CONTROVERSIES

7. Promote Investments
Wireline
Industry Indicators
Source: INDOTEL

8. Promote Investments
Wireless
Industry Indicators
Source: INDOTEL

9. Promote Investments
Internet
Industry Indicators
Source: INDOTEL

10. Promote Investments Industry Indicators 1996 2000 2001 GDP Growth
3rd. Q
GDP Growth
Telecoms GDP Share
Telecoms Growth Rate
7.2 %
7.8 %
1.8 %
3.8 %
5.4 %
6.6 %
16.3 %
15.7 %
22.7 %
Sources: 1.- Dominican Economic Report January-December 200, Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, March 2001
2.- Dominican Economic Report January-December 200, Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, August 2001
3.- Central Bank Homepage:

11. Promote Investments Fiber Optic Project CDE-INDOTEL - commerce Agenda
Entry of new Telco’s and ISP’s

12. Establish Policies and Norms
Telecoms Law No establishes a general regulatory framework.
Regulator’s task is to establish policies and norms to enhance regulatory framework
Regulation of Services NOT Technology
Minimum Regulation Principle

13. Establish Policies and Norms
September 200 to date:
Universal Service Policy
Universal Service Plan
Rules concerning the Telecommunications Development Fund
Rules for the Solution of Controversies between Consumers and Operators
Rules establishing the Prohibition of the Interception of Telecommunications

14. Under Public consultation
Establish Policies and Norms
Under Public consultation
Regulation concerning the Acquisition of Authorizations to Provide Telecommunications Services in the D.R.
National Frequency Attribution Plan
Regulation of provision of Cable Service
Regulation of provision of FM Service
Rules concerning the Contribution to the Development of Telecommunications
Regulation for Ham Radio Users
Routing Technical Plan
Interconnection (SOON TO BE RELEASED)

15. Supervise Service Providers
Revision of all concessions and licenses granted prior and under Telecoms Law No to ensure legality of these authorizations
Shutdown of illegal radio and TV stations
Shutdown of illegal call centers

16. Protect Consumers Rights
Establishment of a Assistance Center for Consumers
Establishment of rules applicable to consumer complaints
Educational lectures on consumers rights and obligations

17. Manage the Spectrum Limited resource Organization of the Spectrum
Administer efficiently the available frequencies
Implementation of a spectrum monitoring system

18. Solve Controversies Case by case basis
Cases of frequency interferences between radio, TV and cable operators
Interconnection disputes

19. Administer the Telecommunications Development Fund
Rural Telephony
Tele-centers
Tele-education
Cortesía de
Universal Access
Tele-medicine
Cortesía de
Rural Telephony Project
Tele-centers Project
Telemedicine Project (in coordination with State Secretariat of Health and Public Assistance)
Teleducation Project (in coordination with State Secretariat of Education)

20. Conclusions Regulator must balance: market needs vs. consumers needs
Regulator should be accessible and its actions must be transparent
Regulation should incentive the existence of conditions of a competitive market

21. Th nk You!

22. Lic. ORLANDO JORGE MERA Internet : http://www.indotel.org.do
PRESIDENT – INDOTEL
Internet : :
Tel.: (809)
Fax: (809)
Av. Abraham Lincoln No. 962, Edificio Osiris • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic•