April 19, 2012
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URCA in crackdown over communications outages
Regulators last night voiced their displeasure with inconsistent and delayed reporting of network outages by Bahamian communications providers as they moved to better protect consumers from such disruption.
The Beat 103.5FM given final warning on explicit content
Sebas Bastian’s radio station has escaped a fine despite committing multiple violations by broadcasting “sexually explicit” and “offensive, obscene and vulgar language” during prime daytime hours that children may have heard.
URCA: Renewable policies not working
Bahamian energy regulators have conceded their renewable policies are “not attractive” for companies and investors seeking to enter the sector, and are proposing a pricing structure switch.
URCA demands Cable Bahamas pull political ad
THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority has ordered Cable Bahamas Limited to immediately cease and desist from broadcasting a political advertisement of Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis that has been showing on its channels.
Communications sector rebounds from 5-year low
The Bahamian electronic communications industry recovered from a five-year low in 2018 to grow its total revenues by three percent to $390m in 2019, sector regulators have revealed. The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), in its 2
URCA targets ‘accuracy’ of BPL fuel levy
Energy regulators are prioritsing the creation of a formula for determining how Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) calculates the fuel charge component of customers’ bills to ensure it “accurately reflects” true costs.
URCA modifies renewable mechanism at BPL urging
Regulators have modified their much-criticised compensation proposal for larger grid-tied renewable energy systems at Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) urging, it was revealed yesterday.
Media regulator unveils gaming ad crackdown
Regulators yesterday unveiled a proposed crackdown on gaming advertising carried by Bahamian TV and radio stations in a bid to protect “vulnerable” children and young adults from harm.The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), unveili
URCA 'trying to destroy broadcasting company'
THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority is planning to liquidate a local broadcast company fighting to prove its rightful claim to the 103.5 FM radio licence, with the company’s attorney accusing the regulator of trying to “destroy” his cl
URCA fines BPL $230k over fires, blackout stalling
Energy sector regulators last night revealed they have fined Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) some $229,535 for failing to co-operate with investigations into its summer blackouts and Clifton Pier fires.
Operators unite against URCA's 3-year phase-in
Cable Bahamas and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) have united in opposition to regulators’ proposals to gradually lower call termination rates over a three-year period. The giant communications rivals, together with the former’s Aliv mo
URCA: 'All must carry their fair energy share'
Energy regulators yesterday said renewable providers had “misunderstood and misinterpreted” proposed reforms designed to ensure “equitable treatment for all stakeholders”.Shevonn Cambridge, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA)
Renewable energy: URCA's revisions 'worst imaginable'
Renewable energy providers yesterday blasted proposed new regulatory guidelines as “the worst imaginable” solution that threatens to “set The Bahamas backwards as a nation”. The Sustainable Energy Association of the Bahamas (SEAB), in particular, wa
URCA proposes up to 90% cut in call terminate fees
Regulators are proposing up to 90 percent “interim” cuts to a selection of call termination charges levied by the major Bahamian communications carriers, it was revealed yesterday.
Cable and BTC reject URCA's IXP argument
Cable Bahamas and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) have unanimously cast doubt on URCA’s case for developing a local Internet Exchange Point (IXP). The Bahamas’ two largest communications companies, responding to the Utilities Regulation
Civic group says town meetings are 'ten years too late'
A local civic group believes that URCA’s need to finally hold town meetings this week in Grand Bahama has come 10 years too late, claiming that power rates on the island are at their lowest since 2009.
Bahamas failing to ‘leverage internet into innovation’
The Bahamas is “failing to leverage the internet’s full potential to drive entrepreneurship and business innovation”, industry regulators are asserting.
URCA releases Internet Exchange oversight regime
Regulators yesterday moved to create the supervisory framework for Bahamas-based Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in a bid to lower local access costs.
Communications sector below $400m revenues - a first in five years
Communications sector revenues dipped below $400m for the first time in five years during 2018, with both fixed-line voice and pay TV subscribers falling year-over-year.
URCA loses power in radio case
THE attorney general has stripped the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority of the responsibility to continue criminal proceedings against ZSR Sports Radio’s operator for allegedly operating without a licence, it was revealed yesterday.
URCA calls in police to shut Sports Radio
The broadcaster at the centre of Sebas Bastian’s radio licence controversy yesterday pledged to “attack” its police-enforced shut down, arguing: “The injustice needs to stop.”
URCA directs $1m fine to relief effort
THE major part of a $1.5m fine levied against Bahamas Telecommunications Company by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority has been donated towards hurricane relief efforts, the company’s chief executive said yesterday.
Final stage of bidding for cellular licence begins
AFTER a five-month delay, the final phase of the selection process for the country’s second mobile services provider has begun, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority announced yesterday.
URCA ‘cannot rely on media reports’ to launch outage probe
THE Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority is awaiting an official report from the Bahamas Telecommunications Company before it can start an official investigation of this weekend’s island-wide network outage.
Lack of filing of grievances a challenge
THE public’s failure to formally file grievances presents a considerable challenge for broadcasting regulators, according to URCA’s Director of Policy and Regulation Stephen Bereaux.
URCA dismisses BTC's $1.5M foreign fees loss
Regulators have dismissed the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) argument that forcing it to lower cellular (mobile) call termination rates would cost it $1.5 million a year, arguing that this is essential to fostering “fair competition” at home.
URCA to host utility regulation conference
The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) will host the 10th annual conference of the Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR), from November 7-9 next week at the Grand Lucayan Resort .
Cable 'not ecstatic' over URCA decision's $1.9M revenue loss
CABLE Bahamas is “not ecstatic” that URCA will require another three months post-consultation end to decide whether to approve its application for a 27 per cent SuperBasic increase, as this will cost it another $1.92 million in estimated revenues.
Cable confirms URCA's Freeport 'no jurisdiction
CABLE Bahamas has confirmed that the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) cannot regulate its services in Freeport, technically enabling it do whatever it wants with pricing and services in the nation’s second city.
'Can URCA approve Cable's 27% price rise in Freeport?'
Questions were yesterday raised over whether the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) could approve a 27 per cent rise in Cable Bahamas’ SuperBasic price in Freeport, given that a 2011 Supreme Court ruling found the regulator could not levy fees on the company’s Internet earnings in that city.
URCA to launch Consumer Council
THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) will launch a public consultation on consumer protection and rights regulations later this year, its director of policy and regulation, adding that it also planned to form a Consumer Advisory Council.
URCA completes initial review in BTC network outage investigation
THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has completed its initial review in its investigation of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) network outage, the communications regulator announced yesterday, stating that it had also requested three years of preventative maintenance records from the company.
URCA releases final decision on number portability
THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Committee has released its final determination on the implementation of number portability in the Bahamas.
URCA appoints general counsel
THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has appointed of Vincent Wallace-Whitfield as its general counsel with effect from August 1, 2012.
Regulator waives separate accounts demand on Cable
Regulators last night agreed to “defer” their demand that Cable Bahamas publish separate accounts for its different business units, agreeing that this was unnecessary because the company did not provide services to rival operators.
Business goes on 'defensive' over URCA dispute
A GRAND Bahama businessman said yesterday that he was going on the "defensive", after the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) issued an order prohbiting the use of his assigned radio spectrum. He told Tribune Business he would wait for the communications regulator to take him to court.
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