TRA - Improving Regulation through Transparency

TRA - Improving Regulation through Transparency

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  Improving Regulation throughTransparency TRA’s Consultation and Access to Information Dr. Kamal Shehadi Chairman/ CEO Telecommunications Regulatory Authority LTA Corporate Governance and Access to Information Conference   Phoenicia May 26, 2009
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  The Telecommunications Law431 creates the proper environment for a competitive telecommunications market Regulator Operator Before Telecom Law 431 Ministry of Telecommunications MoT: Policymaker Set the general guidelines of the telecom policy Approve Recommendation of TRA on individual licenses Pricing of radio frequency TRA annual budget TRA: Regulator Draft and implement regulations Award licenses for the provision of telecom services Ensure competition and prevent anti-competitive behavior Manage radio frequencies on behalf of GoL Operator(s) [Incumbents & New Entrants] Provide telecom services to the public Install, own and manage telecom networks and facilities Abide by TRA rules, regulations and license terms Policymaker 3 1 2 Ministry of Telecommunications: policymaker, regulator and service provider Council of Ministers: Arbitrary regulatory role (e.g. issuing all licenses) No formal regulatory regime
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  The TRA ismandated to regulate telecommunications in Lebanon and to take measures necessary to promote a competitive market and ensure market transparency Take all decisions and measures required to implement the Telecom Law 431 Prepare regulations to achieve the objectives of Telecom Law 431 / 2002 Draft decrees and regulations related to the implementation of the telecommunications law, and refer these to the Minister Encourage competition in the telecom sector Monitor behavior that may limit competition and ensure market transparency Ensure that operators with significant market power do not abuse their market position Issue licensees and monitor compliance with license terms and conditions Organize auctions and draft auction rules for the award of individual licenses Suspend or revoke licenses based on Telecom Law 431 / 2002 Set regulations for interconnection Review interconnection agreements Set standards and regulations for review of complaints and other disputes Act as a mediator / arbitrator in disputes between licensees Set regulations for the arbitration of disputes regarding interconnection agreements Legislative Role Competition Licensing Interconnection Dispute Resolution
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  In carrying outits functions, the TRA is mandated by Law 431 to adhere to the highest standards of transparency The TRA is required to report on its activities and its finances. It is required to present annual reports to the Council of Ministers (Art. 5.4 and Art 33); its budget has to be approved by the ministers of telecom and finance; its finances are subject to internal and external auditing (Art. 11.6) and to the Audit Court auditing a posteriori (Art. 2) Licensing is to be conducted using well publicized, pre-announced competitive bidding rules and procedures, clear and simple criteria for evaluating bids, and a license award process that is open to public scrutiny. Bidders will be treated equally, with public receipt of all bids, rapid notification and public announcement of the winner ( art.20) All TRA decisions are subject to review by the TRA within two months from their publication at the request of a concerned party (Art. 14.1). TRA decisions may be appealed to the Council of State but only on procedural grounds (Art. 14.2). TRA decisions imposing penalties may be appealed to the Court of Appeals (Art. 40). The start of a review or appeal process does not, by itself, justify suspension of the decision The TRA is required to make available to any person that requests it any and all information which the TRA has and which has not been designated as confidential (Art. 12), although it is also required to maintain the confidentiality of reports and information submitted by the service providers (Art. 32) Availability of Information Licensing Accountability Review and Appeal
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  A transparent regulatoryframework is key to the development of the telecommunications market by reducing regulatory risks TRA: Regulator Operator(s) Incumbents & New Entrants Transparent Regulatory Regime Transparency Refers to: Making all regulatory procedures transparent to stakeholders Engaging the public in the decision making process Provide rationale to decisions and regulatory approaches Define all necessary processes in an independent and efficient way Engaging investors in consultations on all regulatory matters of interest to them Transparency Results in: Less regulatory risk by making regulatory decisions predictable Effective and equal participation in regulatory processes Ensure non-discrimination between stakeholders Increase investments in the sector by reducing risks and costs
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  The TRA hasconducted more than 20 consultations to date and has provided a rationale for all its decisions and makes public all non confidential information TRA is required by law (Law 431/2002, Art. 5) to consult stakeholders or the public TRA has consulted so far on 20 regulations and decisions, among which the liberalization roadmap TRA decisions have to be reasoned and the reasoning has to be made available to the public TRA provides to the public the rationale behind any decisions, opinion or regulation most of the time based on the combination of international best practice and Lebanese market conditions TRA has the obligation to provide information to the public about the telecom sector except for confidential information All regulations, decisions and documents are available to the public; very few confidential information are not publicized (for instance information pertaining to strategic position of a particular operator) Current TRA Practices in Public Consultation and Access to information
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  Public or restrictedconsultation is an important part of establishing the regulatory framework Spectrum Management and Licensing Regulation Drafting Stage Consultation stage Board Review State Council Review Issued in OG Type Approval Regulation Accounting Separation Regulation Spectrum Pricing Opinion Consumer Affairs Regulation Significant Market Power Regulation Unbundling Regulation Class & Frequency Licensing fees regulation Liberalization Roadmap Licensing Regulation Interconnection Regulation Decisions: VSAT, Trial IPTV Spectrum trial Allocation for MoT / OGERO VOIP Policy Statement Pricing Regulation National Roaming Study on Use of Public Properties Spectrum Refarming and Packaging Plan Quality of Service Regulation Decision for establishment of call centers Universal Service CS / CPS Improving FM Broadcasting Numbering Regulation Access to Information Regulation Digital Migration Strategy for TV Broadcasting National Numbering Plan Lebanese National Frequency Table Code of Practice for VAS Broadband Licensing Plan and Network Requirements Drafting Stage Consultation stage Board Review Issued in OG
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  In issuing regulations,the TRA has the obligation to carry out consultations in a transparent manner, which may be limited to stakeholders or open to the wider public Typically, stakeholders are consulted on very specific issues which may interest service providers, investors, users, or a special category of users (e.g., service providers are to be consulted on interconnection, on new technologies, etc.) The TRA is required to publish guidelines on consultations The TRA may carry written or oral consultations In both cases, the TRA has to make public transcripts and records of the consultation process Stakeholder Consultation A public consultation process is conducted on matters of general public interest, such as telecom policy, price regulation, etc. The public consultation shall be clear and focused with respect to the issue it is consulting on and the timeframe available for consultation The consultation methodology may vary depending on the concerned parties and the issue in question The TRA has to provide information about the responses to the public consultation and summarize the findings of the consultation Public Consultation
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  Transparency goes beyondpublic consultation, it also involves accounting for the stakeholders comments and responding to them Draft for consultation sent to existing operators, potential investors, government entities and other interested parties Interested parties send comments to TRA; requests for confidential information has to be justified and accepted by the TRA Comments are studies by TRA and filtered according to the validity of the proposition When TRA finds comments or requests applicable, it aims at incorporating them in the final document TRA then sends responses to stakeholders providing rationale for accepting or rejecting their comments Responses are sent to all who responded in order to benefits from other parties comments and answers (names are kept confidential) TRA has so far received many comments on the public consultation it conducted mostly comments were received from mobile managers, DSP and ISP and potential investors The consultation process can be difficult for a newly formed regulator in a country where procedural transparency is not entrenched in government practice
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  The Board ofDirectors is currently finalizing the Access to Information Regulation which has been issued for consultation on December 2008 The purpose of this regulation is to develop the interaction between the TRA and the public in order to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the decision making process In aiming for transparency, the authority defines in this regulation how parties can have access to information and studies that underpin the authority’s decisions and stresses the fact that all parties will be equally treated in terms of having access, to the same information, and at the same time Any person requesting access to information can apply in writing ( by completing a standard form), describing the information in which he requires access to TRA studies the request TRA will not disclose any information that it considers may jeopardize commercial confidentiality and competition TRA may consult with the concerned party in deciding whether related information should be disclosed or not. TRA sends a notification of Decision by way of a recommended letter with receipt to the applicant.
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  Currently the TRA is putting in place a simple and transparent licensing process to facilitate entry to the telecommunications market
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  Transparency is oneof the most important parameters in a successful licensing process which aims at attracting investment and reduce barrier to entry Procedural transparency is one of the fundamental requirements of a successful licensing process;  therefore the TRA is going to publish the Service provider licensing regulation which includes all the procedures for applying for a license Transparency requires that a licensing process be conducted openly and that licensing decisions be made based on criteria published in advance;  The Service provider licensing regulation will include the general criteria for accepting a license application, moreover the criteria for individual licenses based on auctions (such as mobile licenses) will be published in advances, stakeholders will be able to comments on them It is good practice to engage in public consultation before and during a licensing process. To start, a regulator should invite public comment on the approach to be taken in a proposed licensing process before it starts.  To that end TRA has consulted on the service provider licensing regulation that will be published after the shura review Consultation with stakeholders reinforces the perception of a transparent process. Consultation allows the TRA to receive directly the views of consumers, existing operators and prospective applicants on proposed licensing procedures to be fine-tuned to maximize the prospects for a successful licensing process. The importance of a transparent Licensing regime