Convergencia Research, Consultoría especializada en Latinoamérica y Caribe
Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Colombia´s convergent regulator defines its agenda and creates new positions

Carlos Lugo Silva, commissioner of the Comisión Regulación de Comunicaciones (CRC) (Telecom regulator) Communications Session, explained to Convergencialatina the progress in the establishment process and the challenges facing the new entity, which covers telecommunications, postal and audiovisual media services .

The new Law of Modernization of the ICT sector entered into force on July 25. By virtue thereofs, from the Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones (CRC) the work of recomposition of the new regulatory agenda began and some structural procedures were faced to make way for the transition. It is currently being made the link with the Autoridad Nacional de Televisión (ANTV) (National Television Authority) - which is already in the process of being winded up - and with the ICT Ministry, which will transfer to the CRC all issues related to the regulatory area.

Convergencialatina (CL): In the framework of the establishment of the new single convergent regulator for the ICT sector, how is the transition process moving forward?

Carlos Lugo Silva (CLS): In general terms, it has been a quick and interesting process, since we have become an autonomous authority, with legal personality, and that has facilitated the transition process. In less than two months - since the President of the Republic enacted the Law - we have already undertaken 100% of our functions as sole regulator. In addition, we are working on several technical proposals referring to how the new functions will be undertaken.

CL: What is the status of the competitive contest selection process of the commissioners of the Communications and Audiovisual Content Commissions of the CRC?

CLS: On September 13, the calls corresponding to the selection process by competitive contest of the Commissioners that will be part of the Communications Session of the CRC were published, with which the academic knowledge and work experience of the interested parties will be assessed.

On this occasion, the evaluation of the academic achievements of the applicants will be 60%, leaving 40% for experience, as established in the Law. The contest is open: any citizen who meets the requirements can participate.

For the candidates' evaluation process, an agreement was made with the Departamento de Administración de la Función Pública (Department of Administration of the Public Management) - in the case of the Communications Commission -, so it is important to note that these contests are not led by the Government.

CL: Have all competencies as single regulator been undertaken?

CLS: We are in the middle of the process. As for the functions, we have already undertaken them in 100%. It is lacking that the ANTV - which is in the Winding-Up Board - gives us all the files. In one month we would have everything.

For the third week of September, the first meeting of the Communications Commission will be held, which will consist of the ICT Minister, Sylvia Constaín, the commissioner in charge Camilo Jiménez Santofimio - recently appointed by the President - and myself. On this occasion, we will discuss the new agenda, pending issues related to the creation of charges, revision of the regulation for tariffs and indicators of the postal service and the infrastructure sharing regime.

CL: When is the ANTV scheduled to be winded up?

CLS: The Law establishes that the agency has a period of one year to carry out the winding up process, sell the liabilities, redistribute to its officers. But it ceased to be in operation as from the moment the Law on Modernization of the ICT sector was enacted.

CL: Do you plan to include the decision on Claro's prevailing position on the agenda?

CLS: It is a decision that has to be resumed in the next sessions of the Communications Commission. However, the process continues, it has not stopped. We are waiting for some studies that were requested from the CRC technical team.

CL: In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing the new CRC, as a single convergent regulator?

CLS: It has two major challenges. Considering its autonomous character, it must become an enabler to finish closing the digital divide in the country. This is a public policy and the regulator's objective.

That is why we are working to present incentives that promote investment in the sector, through a simple and innovative regulation. An example of this is the proposal of the Roadmap for the simplification of regulation, as well as the sandbox regulation project.

The second challenge is to work on the modernization of networks. We believe that the population must be connected and well connected, with the latest generation networks. That is why we must finish the 4G deployment, in order to think about 5G. As regulators we must accompany these government policies.

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