reasonable period of time, to the extent that these have not been established previously. Strategy Presently while interconnection does exist in Antigua and Barbuda it is biased. The Government will develop and make available guidelines that should be used in the commercial negotiation of the terms and conditions of interconnection contracts between the entrant and the incumbents, APUA and Cable and Wireless. If an agreement cannot be reached, either of the parties will be able to refer the matter to an arbiter for resolution. Regard will be had to the following: 1. Non-discrimination. To ensure fair competition, there should be nondiscrimination in the charges for and quality of interconnection that the incumbents APUA and Cable and Wireless offer to itself and to others. 2. Fair terms and conditions. Technical standards and specifications should be reasonable and appropriate points of interconnection should be made available. Charges should be cost oriented, and interconnection services should be sufficiently unbundled that the purchaser need not pay for components or facilities that it does not require. 3. Inclusion of relevant elements in the charge. In addition to the cost of provision of interconnection services, the regulatory authority may also take into account, as appropriate, the net cost to the APUA in providing Universal Service and requirements to provide free access to the emergency services. 4. Transparency. Interconnection agreements or a reference interconnection offer by the incumbents, APUA and Cable and Wireless, should be made publicly available, setting out the basis on which interconnection will be provided. All elements of the charges to be paid for interconnection should be explicitly identified, and sufficient information should be made available to justify the charges, within the reasonable bounds of commercial confidentiality. 19