Cofetel Expects Telmex Control Rules by Sep. 15

Mexican regulator Cofetel has set September 15 as the deadline for publishing special control measures to limit the powers of dominant operator Telmex (NYSE: TMX), and for settling interconnection rates between Telmex and other local telephony operators, El Economista (Mexico) reported. Meanwhile, the Mexican government must accept today or tomorrow the United States Trade Representative's (USTR) request that it begin consultations with the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO set August 27 as the deadline for the first consultations in the case, which will last 30 days, followed by a 60-day period to reach an agreement. If after that deadline there is still no agreement the USTR is expected to ask the WTO to convene a controversy panel to evaluate its complaints.