The Bill is to amend the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulation Act No. 30 of 2009 (“the Act”) as amended by Amendment 22 of 2018, and the purpose of this amendment is for the regulatory role of Broadcasting and Media is fully transferred from Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) to the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR), and to give effect for establishment of any Broadcasting and Media Universal Access Policy (UAP) for Vanuatu, and to ensure fair competition in the Broadcasting Market.
The many islands comprising Vanuatu, the distances between them and the rough island terrain, make logistics and communications between and within islands very difficult and expensive. Access to information is often very limited for those living outside of the urban areas, and while improvements in internet access, mobile telephony and radio broadcasting are ongoing, there are still significant barriers to providing equitable access to connectivity, information sharing and infrastructure sharing.
The rollout of the Telecommunications coverage and broadcasting coverage on the other hand is equally important for the citizens of the country. As such, it is essential for the amendment of the current TRBR legislations to cater for the provision for any UAP in the broadcasting sector.