Volume 5, Number 21, Page 2

Telecomm Update from Colombia

by Gómez Pinzón & Asociados

Television Services

a) Non-Profit Local Stations

On April 30, 1998, the National Television Commission issued Agreement 35 by means of which the procedures regarding the operation of non-profit local stations are regulated. Any person or entity interested in obtaining a license to provide this type of service must comply with the requirements set forth in the Agreement.

b) Public Non-Profit Television Services

On April 30, 1998, the National Television Commission issued Agreement 36 by means of which non-profit public television services are regulated. Any person or entity interested in obtaining a license to provide this type of service must comply with the requirements set forth in this Agreement.

Telephone Interconnection Project

Within the next few days, the National Telecommunications Commission (CRT) will issue a resolution to amend Resolution 87 of 1997. The purpose of the resolution is to clarify access and interconnection charges and tariffs. Companies that provide local telephone services currently paying different access charges, must adjust them by July 31, 1999 in order to comply with the amounts set forth in the resolution. The purpose of this adjustment is to ensure that all consumers have the same tariff treatment if the cost of interconnection and access to companies that provide these services are the same.

Additionally, this resolution requires telecommunications services to register the value of the tariff charges per call with the CRT. This must include the costs incurred for payment of interconnection and access tariffs to other telecommunications companies.

Long Distance Services

A fourth long distance carrier, comprised of: (i) Emcatel, (ii) Telefónica de Pereira, and (iii) Telefónica de Barranquilla, is interested in providing services. These telephone companies have announced that they have entered into a shareholders’ agreement and that Telecom Italia, an international carrier, is most likely to join this consortium.

Carrier Services

Decree 556 of March 20, 1997 concerns regulated carrier services (those services that provide the necessary capacity for the transmission of signals between two or more defined points of the telecommunications net) and the terms and conditions for the concession of these services. The concession for carrier services will be granted by the Ministry of Communications by means of a ten-year license, which can be extended for the same term but not exceeding twenty (20) years.

Gómez Pinzón & Asociados is located in Bogotá, Colombia. Practice areas include international finance and investment and corporate law.