Amid growing public discourse about potential telecommunications price controls in Belize, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has provided crucial clarification regarding its regulatory approach and authority. The commission addressed questions about whether new statutory instruments are necessary for implementing consumer protection measures in the telecom sector.
Stacy Grinage, Internal Legal Counsel at PUC, referenced Section 26 of the Belize Telecommunications Act, explaining that the commission already possesses regulatory authority to implement rate controls when a sole or dominant provider exists in the market. “What we are doing here is the initial consultation process in determining a dominant provider,” Grinage stated, noting that while multiple licenses exist, the market currently operates with two primary providers.
Abraham Teck, Director of Regulated Services at PUC, emphasized that market share represents just one factor in their comprehensive assessment. “Our exercise is an independent exercise that looks at market share as one and other areas,” Teck explained, distancing the commission’s technical evaluation from political considerations.
When questioned about the necessity of additional statutory instruments, Teck indicated that certain regulatory remedies might require specific S.I. implementation, though not in all cases. The commission’s comments suggest a methodical, evidence-based approach to telecommunications regulation rather than immediate price intervention, with the current focus remaining on properly assessing market dominance through established legal frameworks.