Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones

The Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) Plenary approves the program to tender bids and award frequencies to form two digitally broadcasted television networks

• The Program is formed by 246 frequencies under the principles of efficient operation of markets, maximum national coverage of services, the right to information and media social services.
• Under the principle of spectral efficiency, a higher sector of the population and a greater geographic surface are covered with regards to the original program.
• We managed to reduce the number of channels located in the 600 MHz band from 112 to 65, 13 of which were located in the border strip, which implied the coordination of works with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, allowing that this band may eventually be cleared in the future.
• The “Program to Concession Television Broadcasting Frequencies that may be subject of Competitive Bids”, published in the Federal Official Gazette on June the 12th of 2012, as well as the amendment thereto of August the 16th of even year, is repealed.

In an extraordinary session, the Plenary of the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones, IFT) unanimously approved the new Program to Tender Bids and Award Frequencies of Digitally Broadcasted Television to be conducted in 2014, these concessions of frequencies may be grouped in order to form at least two national networks that will have national coverage, in compliance with the instruction set forth in the Constitutional Amendment Decree in telecommunications matters.

The Program was designed to make a more efficient use of the radio spectrum and achieve a territorial and population coverage greater than the coverage pursued by the extinct Federal Telecommunications Commission program, published on June 12th of 2012 in the Federal Official Gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación, DOF), which has been repealed, as well as the amendment thereto on August 16th of even year.

Thus, the IFT decided that the Program to Tender Bids for digital free-to-air television services will consist on 123 coverage zones that form 246 channels, to be tendered under the principles of efficient operation of markets, maximum national coverage, right to information and social services of the media.

The program to tender bids of June of 2012 included 306 channels to tender in 153 locations with a configuration of national networks, regional networks or even service stations that provide services in individualized locations; however, once an extensive analysis was made, and in order to comply with the constitutional instruction to form at least two television networks with national coverage, the IFT Plenary decided to amend it and issue an new Program, which design manages to cover a greater sector of the population and a greater geographical surface with respect to the former.

Under the criterion of spectral efficiency, the bidding scheme approved eliminates 68 channels included in the original program, which coverage was already attended by others, and incorporated 8 channels in locations that were not previously serviced, apart from the fact that the radio coverage of some of them were extended.

Furthermore, we managed to reduce the number of channels located in t h e 600 MHz band from 112 to 65, 13 of which were located in the border strip , which implied works coordinated with the United States of America Federal Communications Commission. These actions will eventually allow to clear the band of 600 MHz in a near future.

The approved program stipulates that potential licensees may only be entitled to provide broadcasting services in relation to each (channel) frequency within the zone of coverage defined by the radio, and the specific coordinates defined in the selfsame program.

According to this decision, the IFT guarantees the constitutional provision whereby a public service of collective interest, such as broadcasting, is provided under conditions of competitiveness and promoting a greater plurality of information, which is consistent with the instruction set forth in Article 28 of the Constitution.

The program will be published in the Federal Official Gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación, DOF) in a few days, whereby the IFT has set the foundations that enable the full observance of the provisions of sub section II of the Eighth Transitory Article of the Decree of Constitutional Amendment, that foresees the issuance of the invitation to bid and the rules for competitive biddings for Frequencies of Digitally Broadcasted Television, according to the terms set forth for these purposes by the selfsame constitutional text.

The Technical Portability Committee convenes

Furthermore, the officers of the IFT convened the Technical Portability Committee and conducted the First Ordinary Session of 2013, attended by the 18 companies that form it, represented by 21

persons in charge .

In the context of the First Ordinary Session, such Committee informed to the officers appointed by the Plenary Session of the Institute that, from now on, they will promptly supervise this Committee, and a Portability portal was presented on the IFT webpage as a communication tool amongst the Committee members.

In this session, the matters of greater significance and interest for their members were also discussed, and the Calendar of Ordinary Sessions of 2014 was agreed upon, in order to have an active participation and greater commitment with the sessions for the next year.

Portability is the right of users which promotes a substantial improvement in the quality of services, a greater offer of products and rates reduction, insofar that competitiveness is strengthened and licensees will make their best efforts to maintain their users or attract new subscribers. The number portability will facilitate the subscriber decision regards to the licensee that such subscriber prefers to acquire for the service.