76 Attorney General’s Chambers Level 5-7 Suvavou House Suva September 2006 TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILL 2006 EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Promulgation and is intended only to indicate its general effect) 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 The Promulgation seeks the replace the provisions dealing with the telecommunications under the Post and Telecommunications Decree 1989. 1.2 The Promulgation seeks to establish the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji, including the Telecommunications Appeal Tribunal and provide for their powers and functions. 1.3 The objectives of the Promulgation are-set out in Clause 3 of the Promulgation, namely, to provide a regulatory framework for telecommunications that promotes the long term interests of end users of telecommunications services, or of services provided by means of telecommunications services, and the efficiency and intemational competitiveness of the telecommunications industry in Fiji and, as consistently with that objective as is practicable— {a) (6) toprovide rapid expansion of reliable and as affordable as possible telecommunications services on an equitable basis, with particular improvement in rural areas; to promote efficient investment and innovation in telecommunications networks and services; {c) to provide fair competition among service providers and allowing market forces to operate; (ad) to provide and promote appropriate consumer protection and other safeguards in relation to telecommunications services where market forces are insufficient. CLAUSES and PART 1—PRELIMINARY MATTERS Part 1 of the Promulgation deals with the preliminary provisions and covers the short title, commencement, definitions aud the objectives. PART 2—MANAGEMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS Division 1 — sets out the functions of the Minister, which is to formulate, implement, monitor and review telecommunications policies. Division 2 - establishes the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji (TAF) as a statutory body with legal personality. A Board of the Authority is also proposed in this Division comprising the Chairperson and 4 other members who are to be appointed in accordance with the procedures to be prescribed by regulations. Other provisions deal with terms of appointment, vacation of office, meetings,