Jamaica secures IDB funds to assist in regulating its ICT sector

Jamaica says it has secured US$300,000 from the Inter-American Development Bank (UIDB) for the recruitment of a consultant as the island begins implementation of a single regulator for its information and communications technology (ICT) sector. The functions of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Broadcasting Commission, and Spectrum Management Authority, are being merged to create the singular entity.

State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Julian Robinson, indicated that the preparatory work would entails mapping out a framework to guide how a single regulating entity will operate, what the organizational structure will entail, along with the required legislative amendments that are needed.

Robinson added, “The consultant should finish the work by about June or July, and then we will be in a position to determine how we move forward in implementing the single regulator, from a cost, legislative, and organizational capacity perspectives. ”

Robinson went on to advise that the creation of a single regulator would establish one point of contact, where investors can access all of the requisite information pertaining to establishing an operation. Furthermore, he then added,“We hope it will drive, primarily, innovation in a sector which we regard as being the platform for moving Jamaica forward in innovation.”

The OUR specifically regulates activities and developments related to utilities, such as water and electricity. Currently, the Broadcasting Commission deals with content, primarily for radio and television, while the Spectrum Management Authority has responsibility for allocating frequencies and licences for the operations of entities, such as mobile service providers.

Finally Robinson went on to explain, “The challenge with that is when you have three regulators regulating an industry, it is terribly inefficient (and) you have some overlapping jurisdiction. It is difficult for investors to move quickly, in terms of getting products and services to the market.”

Source: Caribbean360