ICCC does not set rates: Ain

THE Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) does not have the legal power to set internet and call rates, says Commissioner Paulus Ain.
Ain said ICCC used to regulate the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Industry before but its regulatory powers were given to the National Information Communication Technology Authority (Nicta) under the National Information Communications Technology Act 2010. “ICCC is not the regulator of the ICT industry and it does not have any jurisdiction to deal with consumer issues, including setting of the prices,” Ain said.
“Previously, ICCC performed economic regulatory functions and among others setting the prices of the telecommunications services, including internet rates, mobile, telephone and land line rates.
“With this new changes, the entire economic regulatory function that ICCC held were transferred to Nicta and that includes setting of prices for mobile, telephone, internet rates, including consumer complaints.
“We would also like to appeal to Nicta to inform the public about its roles in the telecommunications industry so that consumers will know that there is
someone who is responsible for this sector.”
Ain was responding to statements made in Parliament by Public Enterprise and State Investment Minister William
Duma on Aug 29 which indicated that ICCC regulated the internet and telephone rates for the entities.
He said the minister’s statement was misleading and increased the public’s misconception that ICCC regulated the ICT industry.