The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says it would review the results of the Public Inquiry on the draft Amended Consumer Code of
Practice Regulations as well as Commercial Satellite Communications Guidelines to meet international practices.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Umar Danbatta disclosed this in his address at the public inquiry session on the draft Amended Consumer Code of Practice, Regulations, , and Commercial Satellite Communications Guidelines in Abuja on Friday.
” We are actually going to review the comments concerning the guidelines and we are going to review the amount to charge for the service”
The EVC, represented by Austin Nwauna, Director of Spectrum Administration NCC, and Fellow Nigerian Society of Engineer, noted that the draft Commercial Satellite Communications Guidelines is aimed at creating a legal framework to regulate the provision and use of satellite communications services and networks, in whole or in part within Nigeria or on a ship or aircraft registered in Nigeria.
“The intention behind the development of the guidelines is to ensure a well developed and organised satellite communications market in Nigeria with appropriate legal framework and meet international best practices, encourage innovation and guarantees public safety.”
Apart from the effective management of scarce frequency resources, the EVC said the guidelines will ensure broadband is shared between satellites and terrestrial systems, and to unserved areas that lacks terrestrial transmission infrastructure backbone.
“Users and providers are going to gain if the guideline is adopted. So we expect people to come on board using the international satellite and the local satellite that we have.”
The regulations and guidelines will complement the act and respective licences issued by the commission in accordance with the draft Consumer Code of Practice Regulations which is an amendment of the previous regulations made in 2007.
The Overview of the amended NCC’s Consumer Code of Practice Regulations as presented by Yetunde Akinloye, Director Legal and Regulatory Services, is made up of four parts comprising of 13 sections and one schedule tagged General Consumer Code of Practice which is equally made up of eight sections ; i. introduction, ii. provision of information to consumers, iii. advertising and regulation of services, iv. Consumer billing, charging, collection and credit practices, v. Consumer obligation, vi. Protection of consumer information, vii. Complaint handling, viii. Code compliance.
Oyin Aminu, Abuja.
