ICT regulatory watch: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Asiet

Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves proposed modifying the telecoms law to render efforts to reduce the digital divide more efficient.

Chaves previously proposed transferring management of the national telecoms fund from regulator Sutel to the telecoms ministry (Micitt) to eliminate redundancies.

He also criticized spending of US$3mn-US$5mn per year on sector consulting.

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Ecuadoran regulator Arcote published new regulation on granting and renewal of qualifying titles for providing telecoms and subscription-based audio and video services, among others. The regulation includes changes in fees and rates for titles allowing spectrum use.

According to operators association GSMA, the change will gradually lead to an 83% drop in spectrum prices.

The measure was presented as part of talks for the renewal of Movistar's and Claro's spectrum licenses.

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Colombian regulator CRC established the conditions for applications to become part of an audiovisual content and television regulatory sandbox.

The call will encourage the presentation of transversal projects by also allowing communications projects.

Issues the sandbox will facilitate are related to pluralism, informative impartiality, viewers' rights and citizen participation.

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Colombia’s ICT ministry is requesting comments for the 2022-26 strategic plan and the 2023 action plan. The call is open until January 10 and can be accessed here, in Spanish.

January 10 is also the deadline for the public consultation for information and communication technologies fund Futic’s 2023 investment agenda. Details are available here, in Spanish.

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Regional sector association Asiet appointed América Móvil's regulatory affairs director Daniel Berna president, succeeding Millicom's Horacio Romanelli, who will become vice president.

Other vice presidents are Telefónica Hispam’s regulatory policy director Ana Valero, AT&T México's assistant vice president external affairs Daniel Ríos, Telecom Argentina's regulatory affairs director Hernán Verdaguer and Copaco's Sante Vallese.