*************************************************
The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) explained today (October 27) that unless and until a court says otherwise, the public consultation process for fixed-mobile convergence remains ongoing. The Telecommunications Authority (TA) will consider fully the views submitted before deciding the way forward.
"We regret that PCCW is seeking a stay of the broad consultation exercise, which involves public and industry participation, being conducted by OFTA about how government regulations should evolve in the emerging environment of fixed-mobile convergence," the spokesperson for OFTA said.
"It is a fundamental part of the TA's role to update the regulatory regime in a timely manner so as to remove regulatory distortions to competition, and regulatory obstacles to technological advancement and innovation. We have been preparing for the consultation with an open mind about the options for regulation and deregulation and we are committed to only making decisions on the way forward after the views and interests of all stakeholders have been taken into account," the spokesperson said.
The consultation started on July 14, 2006, and the time for responses was originally scheduled to end on October 14, 2006. This was subsequently extended for two weeks in response to the requests of certain industry players and is now due to end on October 27, 2006. Prior to the issue of the consultation paper, OFTA had circulated to the industry a consultancy study report that it had commissioned. An industry workshop was held in May 2006 for the consultants to present their findings.
Ends/Friday, October 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:40
NNNN