Colombian telecommunications regulator CRC (Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones) published a set of resolutions to foster the digital ecosystem, including so-called net neutrality, the promotion of content and applications, infrastructure, user protections. They aim to encourage the growth of Vive Digital Plan, which is to bring broadband to 8.8 million homes.
Among other measures, the resolutions establish regulatory conditions related to network neutrality. The resolutions also set June 30, 2012 as the deadline for providers of Internet access via mobile networks adapt their networks for the reporting of service quality conditions; the first quality report for the Internet phone will be due in October 2012.
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The resolutions set conditions for net neutrality to be met by suppliers of telecommunications networks and services that provide Internet service. The principles governing are freedom of choice, nondiscrimination, transparency and disclosure.
Related to the promotion of content and applications, Colombia has regulation for converged networks and mobile content and applications. Through this measure, the CRC will allocate short codes for content providers and applications through SMS (short message service) and MMS (multimedia messaging). CRC said that these short codes are designed to protect the user and indicate the type of purchase (versus one-time subscription), type of service (mass contests, voting), specific content (e.g. for adults) and cost of service (free versus paid).
The resolutions also detail obligations for providing content and applications on mobile networks through SMS and MMS. To provide these services, content and applications, interested parties (individuals or legal entities) must apply for registration to the Registrar of Content Providers and Integrators Technology and Applications to be allocated short codes.
The promotion of infrastructure includes regulation for network deployment inside buildings. CRC aims to increase the supply of services to Colombians living in condominium buildings. The regulation bars a single operator from providing services in a building.
Related to the promotion and protection of service users, the resolutions define the parameters for measuring the quality of mobile Internet and begin a process of assembling a unique tool to assess the quality of Internet connections. The resolutions say that service providers must have Internet access available at all times and display prominently on the home page of websites a free application for users to verify the speed and quality of connections.
Next year, CRC will team with the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications in the definition of a centralized meter speed and quality of Internet access and mobile connections, which will be available to the public.
In terms of Internet access plans, the resolutions say providers of telecommunications networks and services may offer plans that limit access to generic types of services, content and applications, according to the needs of market segments or users, according to their use and consumption profiles, as long as the user’s right to choose the specific provider of the content, application or service is ensured.
