Fees
The Office of the Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) wishes to clarify a few concerns and incorrect statements that have been made recently in the Newspapers in respect of the new Radio Apparatus Licence Fees it has introduced in 2015.
Notice to Radio Apparatus Licence Holders - 2015 Radio Apparatus Licence Renewals
The Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) wishes to inform all radio apparatus licence holders of radio equipment installed onboard marine vessels, aircraft and on land, whose licences have not yet been renewed for 2015, of their obligation to have their radio licences renewed and the prescribed fees paid NOW.
This fee and the associated licence is applicable in accordance with the Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Act No. 30 of 2009 (the “TRR Act”), the Radio Licence, Spectrum Licence (Fees) Regulation Order No. 153 of 2012 (the “Fees Regulation”) and the Decision 02 of 2014.
You are now hereby reminded to ensure that you have your radio licences renewed as soon as possible and to do so no later than the end of the grace period (COB Friday 9th January 2015), as previously advised by TRR.
TRBR further wishes to advise that after the deadline of Friday 9th January 2015 it will proceed to arrange for the publication of the names of licensees who have not renewed their radio licences for 2015. The public notification will be on the TRBR website as well as in all the newspapers in the week commencing 12 January 2015.
Be informed that upon the publication of the names of licensees, or their agents, for non-compliance, anyone found to be knowingly operating a radio station onboard a marine vessel, an aircraft or on land, after Friday 9th January 2015 and without a valid radio station licence issued by TRBR will be in breach of the TRBR Act and the Fees Regulation, and may be subject to a penalty and or fine.
It is also important to note that any licence renewed after Friday 9th January 2015 will attract a late payment fee. The late payment fee, according to the recent new prescribed fees schedule will be calculated on the number of days the payment is late, divided by 365 days, and multiplied by the annual licence fee. A minimum late payment fee of 2,000 vatu will apply.
If you have any queries or if we can assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact our office on Tel. 27621 or on mobile 5551253 or via email to: enquiries@trr.vu.
Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) 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.
TRBR conducted two public consultations on the proposed new Radio Apparatus Licence Fees. The first consultation paper was released in May 2013, during which TRBR 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, TRBR 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 TRBR outlined that it had reviewed and assessed the previously proposed set of licence fees after considering public comment and feedback which was received. TRBR, 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 TRBR 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, TRBR decided that it is in the public interest to adopt the proposed set of radio apparatus licence fees released on 20th August 2014.
TRBR 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.
To facilitate the management of the radio frequency spectrum, Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) issued a Regulation establishing the framework for the collection of radio apparatus licence and spectrum fees as provided by the Act, hence the Radio Apparatus Licence and Spectrum Licence (Fees) Regulation.