Indotel prepares a law to update its regulatory framework

The Dominican Telecommunications Institute ( Indotel ) announced this Sunday that it has begun a comprehensive reform of the General Telecommunications Law with the goal of adapting the regulations to the development of the digital ecosystem, new market dynamics, and the demands of Dominicans for a variety of digital services.

According to the entity, the new law will include key elements such as basic regulation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), the redefinition of the role of the regulatory body in a convergent environment, free and fair competition, and a robust system of guarantees to protect users of digital services such as the internet and social media.

To draft the proposed law, the institution hired a team of specialized lawyers and consultants to draft a bill that addresses current regulatory challenges and guarantees greater protection of user rights, fosters fair competition, and strengthens the role of the State as guarantor of equitable access to digital services.

" Law 153-98 was conceived in an analog context that has lagged behind the rapid technological advances. This process represents an opportunity to modernize the sector's legal framework , promote digital inclusion, and place citizens at the center of public policy," stated Guido Gómez Mazara, president of Indotel 's Board of Directors, in a press release.

The process for the proposal

The reform will be structured in several phases : identification of regulatory priorities, technical drafting of the new articles , rounds of internal and external discussion, and socialization of the final text before its presentation to the National Congress .

Indotel 's goal is to present the bill starting on August 16 , when a new working term begins in Congress .

Before submitting it to the Legislative Branch, the regulatory body will implement a national public consultation process that will include service providers , government institutions, representatives of the academic sector, civil society , and multilateral organizations.

To draft the preliminary draft, Indotel assembled a technical team consisting of legal experts José Luis Taveras, Nassef Perdomo Cordero, and Angélica Noboa Pagán, along with international consultant Christian Lizcano, an expert in telecommunications regulatory frameworks and advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

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