WASHINGTON-Bids for mobile-phone licenses to serve three regions of Iraq are currently being reviewed by a panel established by the Coalition Provisional Authority with a decision expected sometime this month and service to be turned on in November, said a top Pentagon official Aug. 29.
“The CPA has received a substantial number of bids for licenses-sufficient to ensure a strong competitive process. Because this competition for operating licenses is being conducted by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and does not involve the use of U.S.-appropriated funds, U.S. procurement law does not apply. However, many of the principles of the U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulation are being used,” said Linton Wells II, deputy to the assistant Defense secretary for networks and information integration. “It is the intent that this competition will be conducted in a fair and transparent matter, based upon the guidance contained in the Request for Proposals. A panel with strong Iraqi representation is now analyzing the bids. The goal will be to provide best value for the Iraqi people. On completing of the source selection process, the goal will be for Ambassador Paul Bremmer to announce license winners next month.”
Wells gave the telecommunications keynote address at the Rebuilding Iraq Conference held in Arlington, Va. His speech was carried live on C-SPAN.
It is Wells’ view that less regulation will promote innovation. “Less regulation would allow for greater innovation, and ultimately higher performance from the telecommunications sector. The general conclusion from experiences in the developing world and post-wartime environments elsewhere is that less regulation may be better than more in Iraq,” he said. “What is most important is ensuring that the regulatory framework effectively meets the needs of the Iraqi people and the services they require.”
