Consultation on the introduction of UCL

On 21 December 2007, the CEDB released a consultation paper on the creation of a Unified Carrier Licence (UCL) under the Telecommunications Ordinance.

To ensure a regulatory environment conducive to the emerging fixed-mobile convergence (FMC), the OFTA conducted two consultations in 2005 and 2006, and concluded with the recommendation of the introduction of UCL.

This consultation paper covers issues of the general licensing framework for UCL, migration of existing licences to UCL, period of validity of UCL and licence fee arrangement. The highlights include:

1. The proposed UCL will be wide and general, covering all types of fixed, mobile and converged telecommunications services. Existing carrier licences except space station carrier licence (SSCL) will no longer be issued.
2. UCL will have a validity period of 15 years. Upon expiry of a UCL, a new UCL licence with updated conditions will be issued to meet the need of the prevailing regulatory environment.
3. UCL will be issued for new applications and replacement of existing carrier licences upon their expiry. Existing carrier licences will remain valid, conversion to UCL will be implemented on a voluntary basis. Conversion without any change in scope of services will be granted validity period same as the remaining term of the original carrier licences. All other cases will be considered as new licence applications and be granted a full validity period of 15 years.
4. General Conditions (GCs) of the UCL will be the same as that of existing fixed and mobile carrier licences to ensure a level playing field.
5. Licence fee of the proposed UCL will be composed by (i) fixed fee component, (ii) subscriber-based fee component and (iii) non-subscriber-based fee component, detailed arrangement can be found in paragraph 41 of the consultation paper.

This consultation paper covers GCs of the proposed UCL, the OFTA is also conducting a separate consultation on the special conditions (SCs) of UCL. The consultation will be ended on 20 February 2008, I urge you to read through both consultation papers to have a complete picture of the proposed UCL. For consultation submission, please write to CEDB at ucl@cedb.gov.hk.

If you have any comments on the introduction of UCL, please do share your view by dropping me a few lines at cksin@sinchungkai.org.hk.

CK Sin

Panels

• Public consultation on the proposed Unified Carrier Licences
• Survey results on Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (COIAO) (Cap. 390) and the effectiveness of the existing regulatory regime under the COIAO

Panel on Commerce and Industry
Next meeting: 15 January 2008 [Agenda]

• Improvements to the University-Industry Collaboration Programme under the Innovation and Technology Fund

Motions

9 January 2008

• Setting up a fund to meet the needs of the ageing population and help the poor
• Report on Public Consultation on Green Paper on Constitutional Development

16 January 2008

• Heritage conservation trust fund
• Protecting the rights and interests of animals

Activities

The Fifth Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Software Industry Forum

Jointly organized by OGCIO and Department of Information Industry of Guangdong Province, the theme of this year is “Intercommunication, Resources Sharing and Cooperating Development.”

As an elected legislator, I always love to know your views. If you have anything would like to share with me, you can either email me or make an appointment for an office visit or home visit. Please leave your name, contact number, and discussion topic via email, and my office will follow up your request with phone calls accordingly.