BRATISLAVA, March 2, (WEBNOVINY) — The Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development suggests merger of the Postal Regulatory Office (PRU) and the Telecommunications Office (TU) SR as of January 1, 2013 in an analysis of the operation of the ministry and entities under its jurisdiction. However, the Cabinet dropped this material from its Wednesday’s agenda. According to the prepared Cabinet’s regulation, the ministry was to submit a draft bill on establishment of a unified regulatory authority for electronic communications and postal services by the end of this year. The Transport Ministry led by Jan Figel (KDH) opines that the beginning of 2013 would be a more suitable date for establishment of the unified regulator. Preparations for the merger however could already be launched this year. The merger is to save about EUR 73,600 annually on wages.
The Transport Ministry believes that if a unified regulatory authority is established at the beginning of next year, a few risks would arise. “The January 1, 2012 date collides with the process of approval of some new bills, which are expected to take effect in the summer of 2011, or as of January 1, 2012. The timeframe of regulators’ merger in 2011, or as of January 1, 2012, is not convenient. The Postal Regulatory Office as well as the Telecommunications Office are about to undertake strategic measures,” stated the ministry and added that on these grounds it prefers merger of both offices as of January 1, 2013. The ministry further elaborated that TU was to implement a new regulatory frame as well as decide on a universal service and frequencies allocation this year. PRU is currently also focusing on implementation of a new regulatory frame for the segment of postal services and their complete liberalization as of 2012.
The Cabinet originally decided on establishment of a unified regulatory office for electronic communications and postal services back in 2005. The Ministry of Transport drew up a respective draft bill but government’s legislation committee did not approve it. The ministry subsequently drafted a new bill. Concerned subjects did not come to agreement on the final form of the merger. A unified regulatory body of electric communications and postal services currently operates in 18 EU member states. Independent regulatory offices for electronic communications are established in Great Britain and Denmark and for postal services in Great Britain and Spain.
SITA