U.S. telecoms authority offers Govt. help

FCCGeorgetown: US telecommunication authorities have offered Guyana help in managing the country’s spectrum and regulatory practices.

According to the US Embassy, Friday, representatives of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Nese Guendelsberger, Deputy Bureau Chief; and Robert Nelson, Chief Engineer, recently met with Minister of

Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, and provided technical briefings on a wide variety of topics including spectrum management and allocation, regulatory best practices, and telecommunications regulatory policy.

In addition to Minister Hughes, officials from the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), eGovernance Unit, Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Guyana Learning Channel Trust, and Guyana National Broadcast Authority board were in attendance.

The visit would come at a time when the administration is moving to open up the telecommunications sector with the passage of updated laws in the National Assembly.

The laws will effectively allow new players to enter the telecoms market and compete in the mobile phone, landline and internet market.

There have been significant complaints about the development of the market with both Digicel Guyana and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company complaining that a delay in issuing new frequencies is holding up the launch of new services.

The new telecoms legislations have been in limbo for several years now.

According to the US Embassy, Minister Hughes and the FCC representatives cited the importance of such capacity building sessions in assisting the government’s efforts to facilitate the development of world class telecommunications legislation and implementing regulations in order to assist in the development of this growing and vitally important sector of Guyana’s economy.

“The FCC representatives praised the government’s efforts to modernize telecommunications infrastructure including its recent decision to allow cellular providers to launch 4G services in advance of Guyana’s 50th anniversary celebrations.”

Both the FCC and the Ministry of Telecommunications pledged to continue cooperation as Guyana advances telecommunications modernization legislation.

While in Guyana, the FCC officials also had the opportunity to participate in the “Girls in Information Communication Technology” event designed to encourage young women to learn more about information technology.

The FCC representatives highlighted the FCC International Visitors Program and online training as excellent opportunities for young women to become more knowledgeable about, and perhaps pursue careers, in the exciting and constantly changing field of telecommunications.