Parliament yesterday reconvened after the summer recess, with Minister

for Competitiveness and Communications Censu Galea presenting the second Reading of the Communications Laws Amendment Bill.

“With this Bill we want to push the communications market forward, to stay in line with today’s revolutionary standards.” The Bill is subsequent to several Bills regarding the setting up of the Malta Communications’ Authority (MCA), and several developments that were only made possible by the government’s vision and drive for all the investments in this area – particularly in the area of telephony beginning in 1987, said the minister, introducing the bill.

Happy to note that both sides of the House hold the same stance regarding this sector – unlike seven years ago when the opposition was apprehensive to the changes – Minister Galea noted that in the year 2000, the setting up of the authority was the cornerstone that put Malta at the forefront within this sector among its European counterparts. The Bill, he explained, takes into account the changes that have taken place in the Communications sector since 2000, particularly with Malta’s accession to the EU. Encouraging all to look honestly at the work undertaken, Minister Censu Galea assured that progress, change and improvement had truly been made.

The bill looks at five principle amendments in different elements of this sector – Radio Communication, Postal Services, Electronic Communication and Electronic Transactions, as well as the Communications Authority. It amends parameters for the Regulation Authority, ie, MCA, amendments which take into account just competition and consumer protection, which are interwoven.

“Fair competition, a fair deal and a level playing field,” are the keys being further unlocked with the aid of this bill, according to the minister.

In the postal service sector, penalties for the universal service provider have been set to a maximum of Lm10,000, Lm200 per day, when the operator does not meet the regulations set. Furthermore disputes will fall under MCA and will become uniform for all sectors.

E-commerce is one of the bill’s highlights. It shall be putting e-commerce in line with EU standards, installing a better way for business being done through e-commerce. “A sector that must be emphasised upon and exploited, he said.”

Justifying the Bill, continuing on from the implemented 2003 National Plan to Change Communications, Minister Galea emphasised that: “No government in its right senses, would keep static in this sector.”

Taking fixed telephony as an example, an area which has developed beyond its borders, the scenario completely changing, the number of those subscribed to fixed telephony has increased to 219,000; Mobile telephony from 25,000 subscibers to 350,000.

“In January 2006, there were 80,000 subscribed to internet service providers – now we have more than 90,000. There has also been a 50 per cent increase in those partaking in cable television service, the minister said.

He also mentioned SmartCity, combining it with the need for students in all education sectors to undertake studies in the communications arena.

In conclusion, the Minister for Competitiveness and Communications highlighted the future of the sector on the islands. “We are told that when we compare ourselves to EU countries in different areas we always fall short. In this sector we want to be at the forefront.

Labour’s main spokesman for foreign affairs and IT Leo Brincat guaranteed that in this case there will be consensus on the issue.

“As it was in the financial services sector debate, so it shall be in this. What I would like is that this will be the situation if the leaf is turned.”

Mr Brincat’s criticism lay in what may be improved if another government were to be installed. MCA, he felt, has kept a low profile and kept itself in the back seat. It is not that it has shied away from its responsibilities, but, he said, it could have taken them on better. Cases such as when certain television stations got permits to show World Cup matches and were not allowed to air them, should have been taken under MCA’s wing, he said.

According to Mr Brincat, MCA could educate the consumers on their choices, the use of innovative technology, internet safety and child abuse in this regard, e-security issues, broad band costs and tariffs, consumer protection and freedom of choice. It should conduct further research into the use of communicative devices and communication should be undertaken regarding e-commerce and the postal services.

Further measures the MCA could undertake regard the affordability of internet services. The prices of broadband and mobile telephony have not changed in the past three years. Channels of DTTV have gone down to nine from 13. Internet access courses are as expensive as they were when they started. MCA should have reacted to roaming charges before Joseph Muscat did in the EP, he said.

A good point the opposition spokesman felt was that, as the Malta Economic Update quoted the spokesman of the ministry as saying, the MCA is finalising research regarding the broadband access market. This, he hoped, should mean that broadband prices might be decreased. “So as to improve connectivity, we should push to get funds to better connect Malta to the European grid,” he suggested.

Mr Brincat then went on to highlight Labour’s plan on e-commerce. Labour will set up a task-force, which will include representatives of the private sector, to outline a time plan to set out its action plan, and another to implement it. This would be a plan in which SMEs will be aided in this sector, possibly with an educative programme to raise awareness. The aspects of security, user information and consumer protection would be delved into and above all, internet banking and the like would be included within the ambit of e-commerce.

Mr Brincat shall remain in possession for the continuation of the debate later on today.

At the start of the sitting, Minister Tonio Borg expressed condolences on behalf of both sides of the House to Minister Dolores Cristina, following the death of her mother last week.