TRR publicly consulted on the new prescribed fees for Radio Apparatus Licensing and, using feedback and comments received during the consultation, issued its Decision 02 of 2014, on 7 November 2014; outlining the process it had taken and the reasons for implementing a New Prescribed Fees Schedule for Radio Apparatus Licences.
TRR conducted two public consultations on the proposed new Radio Apparatus Licence Fees. The first consultation paper was released in May 2013, during which TRR put forward a proposed new fee structure to replace the existing set of radio apparatus licence fees. Comments received on that consultation paper were generally opposed to the proposed new fees. After considering the responses received during that (first) consultation, TRR decided to take a different approach and then undertake a further public consultation on the matter.
This led to the release of a second consultation paper in August 2014. In this second consultation paper TRR outlined that it had reviewed and assessed the previously proposed set of licence fees after considering public comment and feedback which was received. TRR, taking into consideration current market developments then developed a new set of proposed fees for responders and stakeholders to consider and comment on. There was no comment on the second public consultation although TRR was aware that licence holders, stakeholders and interested members of the public had either received and read the document or had at least been aware of the paper proposing new radio licence fee increases.
After considering all the comments and feedback received from the service providers and interested persons during the first consultation and noting that no further comments were received on the second consultation paper, TRR decided that it is in the public interest to adopt the proposed set of radio apparatus licence fees released on 20th August 2014.
TRR notes that the lack of comment on that second public consultation document can be seen as an indication of support for, and agreement with, the new fees schedule that was proposed.
Therefore, acting in accordance with the provisions of the Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulation Act No. 30 of 2009, particularly Sections 7(1), 7(2)(e) and 7(4)(b) and (c), the Regulator made his decision to adopt the new proposed fees for implementation. Decision 02 of 2014, subsequently, makes the new Prescribed Fees for Radio Apparatus Licences official and mandated for implementation as of 1st January 2015.