UTech, Jamaica Presents Report on “Research on Regulatory Treatment of Small Cable Operators” to Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica
Prof. Stephen Vasciannie (left), President, University of Technology, Jamaica presents a copy of the final report on a consultancy project completed by UTech researchers on The Regulatory Treatment of Small Cable Operators commissioned by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, to Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Anthony Clayton. The findings and recommendations from the research project were presented at a special meeting held at UTech, Jamaica’s Papine campus on Wednesday, July 19, 2017.
The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, formally presented the final report of a consultancy research project undertaken for the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, examining the regulatory treatment of small cable operators in Jamaica.
The project, Research on the Regulatory Treatment of Small Cable Operators, was conducted by a multi-disciplinary team led by Dr. Valoris Smith, Lecturer, College of Business and Management, Sydney Lowrie, Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, and external attorney-at-law, Okeeto DaSilva. UTech was selected by the Broadcasting Commission in 2016 to participate in a competitive bid to undertake the research work.
In providing an overview of the project, Dr. Smith explained that the research was undertaken to provide findings and to make recommendations to the Broadcasting Commission on how the Subscriber Television (STV) operators within Jamaica should be regulated in relation to a tiered regulatory system.
The main focus of the research was on regulatory treatment of small STV cable operators. The research included analysing large, medium and small STV operators with a view to considering a broader regulatory strategy to help to mature the STV industry. Currently, Jamaica does not have a tiered regulatory STV system.
The researchers provided recommendations on regulatory and geographical boundary considerations related to the tiered regulatory system and various incentives to benefit the entire industry and in particular the small-sized STV operators.
In receiving the report, Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Anthony Clayton underscored the Commission’s objective of ensuring fair competition on a “level playing field” within the subscriber television industry. Prof. Clayton said “the only way we can actually help to level the playing field is by looking for ways that we could reduce the cost and burden of regulatory compliance in Jamaica.”
“Highly Policy Relevant”
He pointed out that many small operators serve areas which are not economically attractive to other players, adding that putting them out of business would not result in a better provider, but in no provider at all. “We realised that what we need is to make the divisions more explicit and to build in a strong incentive to improve,” he asserted. The Chairman thanked UTech, Jamaica for the research which he noted is “highly policy relevant” and provides a good foundation “on the exact model we are going to choose.”
UTech, Jamaica, President, Professor Stephen Vasciannie in welcoming the research partnership with the Broadcasting Commission said that “I think all of Jamaica will welcome the thrust by the Broadcasting Commission to facilitate the survival of small cable operators in the context of a more sophisticated and organised approach to regulation.”
He added that the research “now paves the way for the Commission to utilize good evidenced-based data in pursuit of legislative amendments to facilitate the recommended three-tiered regulatory system for the STV industry.”
Members of the UTech, Jamaica and Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica teams (from left) - Prof. Stephen Vasciannie, President, UTech, Ja., Prof. Anthony Clayton, Chairman, Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, Mr. Cordell Green, Executive Director, Broadcasting Commission, Miss Jodi-Ann Jackson, Project Manager, Broadcasting Commission, Dr. Valoris Smith, Lecturer, COBAM and project lead researcher, Mr. Sydney Lowrie, Lecturer, FELS and communication specialist on the research team, and Mr. Okeeto DaSilva, Attorney-at-law and legal consultant on the research project team.
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Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm