The Senate’s Systems, Media and Communications committee has started the debate on the government-sponsored “Digital Argentina” communications bill, with Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich and Federal Planning Minister Julio De Vido defending it and saying the initiative will not “harm any business.”
The Clarín Group had questioned the bill, saying it was made against the media conglomerate, but Capitanich today replied it’s intention is to “improve the state’s role to provide a better, equal communications service.”
The debate started today at 11am in the Congress’ Blue Salon, with the presence of Communications Secretary Norberto Brener.
It will be discussed in the following three weeks, and the government’s aim is to pass it on the Senate on November 26, the commission’ president, Liliana Felner, stated.
“The role of the state is to guarantee the universality of the [communications] service,” Capitanich said on the bill, which would regulate interconnection tariffs and allow the user to access every communications service (phone, internet, cable) through just one cable.
“The law will build a Digital Argentina, leaving obsolete technologies behind,” he added.
Meanwhile, De Vido said the bill will not “harm any business” and that it intends to develop accessibility, federalism and national sovereignty in the service.
“It will not benefit nor harm any business,” he said, adding it will benefit consumers and boost competition.
The law would have a two-year transition process, in which companies will gradually adapt to new regulations.
The government’s intention is to approve the bill in the Senate on November 26, and pass it as law in the Lower House before the end of the year.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald