Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones

The IFT Plenary decides to modify the dates foreseen in the call to tender bids on free-air-television frequencies to form at least two new networks with national coverage

• The change applies to numerals 2.2 and 2.3 of the Call fixing the dates so that the interested parties request a favorable opinion in matters of economic competition and so that they may be notified on the answer to their request, as well as the dates foreseen in the calendar of the Bidding Rules
• With this decision, the Plenary offers greater certainty to the interested parties and promotes the maximum competition in this process to tender bids

In order to observe the constitutional instruction to assure the maximum competition in invitations to tender bids of the radio spectrum, promote competition and offer greater certainty to the interested parties, today, in an extraordinary session the Federal Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones, IFT) Plenary, approved the modification to the dates contained in numbers 2.2 and 2.3 of the Call to Tender Bids to Concession the Use, Benefit and Commercial Exploitation of Broadcasting Channels to provide Digitally Broadcasted Public Television Services , in order to form two National Networks in the United Mexican States, published in the Federal Official Gazette on March 7^th of 2014, as well as the calendar foreseen in the Bidding Rules.

Thus, the Plenary decided to modify the dates so the interested parties submit their request of favorable opinion in matters of economic competition, from June 16th and 17th to September 2nd and 3 rd of the current year. Insofar that this is the first act set forth within the tender bids process entrusted to the potential interested parties; consistent with this change, the following dates foreseen in the calendar of the Bidding Rules were also modified.

The Institute Plenary adopted this decision insofar that the issuance of the regulatory law derived from the decree to reform the Constitution in Telecommunications and Broadcasting matters is pending, there is no certainty on some aspects that may have an impact in the business plan of the interested parties, which could become a disincentive to investment, both for potential participants and for the obtainment of financing.

With this decision, the IFT Plenary allows the participation of potential interested parties in the invitation to free-to-air television frequencies tender bids may have greater certainty on the regulating framework that will govern the concessions thereof, which may have an impact in their will to participate, or in their bids. The foregoing is consistent with the instruction to assure the maximum competition in competitive bids regarding radio spectrum concessions, set forth in Article 28 of the Constitution, which purpose in the particular case is a greater competition in free-to-air television.

The IFT confirms its commitment to the public interest to promote greater offers of services in the different markets it regulates, to the benefit of the Mexican people.