TRC to hold public hearing on adoption of amendments to Unitary Licences

The following is a media release from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission dated April 1, 2022.

On 11 April 2022, a public hearing will be held by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of the Virgin Islands (Commission) in relation to the proposed adoption of amendments to Unitary Licences as contained in the Notice to Adopt a Directive on the Amendment of Unitary Licences issued by the Commission on 30 December 2021.

The Commission makes this announcement further to the postponement of the public hearing that was scheduled to be held on 1 March 2022. The Commission is presently in the process of considering applications for renewal of several Licences for the Operation of a Telecommunications Network Providing Telecommunications Services in the British Virgin Islands (Licence or Unitary Licence).

In accordance with Article 3.3(d) of the Licence, the Commission may approve Licence renewal with conditions based upon the same terms and conditions of the Licence or based upon new terms and conditions which reasonably reflect changed circumstances in the telecommunications sector in the British Virgin Islands at the time of the renewal application.

The Commission considers it appropriate to amend the terms and conditions of the Licence and will do so pursuant to the procedures outlined in Article 18.5 of the Licence. As a part of the procedural rules to modify or amend a Licence as set out in Article 18.5(c), the Commission shall call a public hearing during which Unitary Licensees and those third parties with a legitimate interest that have duly filed comments or objections which the Commission deems to be substantial and relevant, shall have a right to be heard.

The public hearing will be held at Maria’s By The Sea Hotel, Waterfront Drive, Wickham’s Cay, Road Town, Tortola commencing at 9 am. Participation at the public hearing will be limited to Unitary Licensees and any interested third party that submitted a relevant comment or objection on the Directive on the Amendment of Unitary Licences to the Commission by 14 February 2022, in response to the Commission’s notice dated 30 December 2021.

As Covid-19 protocols will be in full effect, spaces at the public hearing will be limited accordingly. Participants are required to pre-register their attendance by contacting the Commission at 284-229-4165 or emailing [email protected].