Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones

IFT Plenary approves the amendments to the General Guidelines for Retransmission of open TV signals in restricted TV systems

• The changes reflect the need to adapt the guidelines to the provisions of the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law

• Agreed to submit for public consultation the Rules Draft for authorizations granting in telecommunications matters under the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law

• Granted the first concession of public use for the STC management to provide the radio communication service to their strategic areas of operation, maintenance and safety

• Approved the Declaration of Principles of the Institute, from which public servants of this regulatory body will guide their work, consistent with the provisions of the legal framework governing and the Code of Conduct for Civil Servants of IFT

The Federal Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones, IFT) met in regular session, yesterday, to approve the amendments to the General Guidelines regarding the provisions of Section I of Eight Transitory Article of Decree amending and supplementing various provisions of Articles 6°, 7 °, 27, 28, 73, 78, 94 and 105 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, in telecommunications matters, published in the Federal Official Gazette on February 27^th, 2014.

These amendments to the Guidelines on the retransmission of television signals broadcast on restricted television systems, reflect the need to bring them into provisions of the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law.

To do this, from December 1^st to 12^th, 2014, the IFT submitted for public consultation the Draft amendments to the General Guidelines, where 5 comments and opinions were received, which can be found on the website of the Institute.

In general, the Plenary amended Articles 1, 2, 3, 7, 11 and 12, second paragraph, fourth, sixth and seventh; 13, 14 and 16 and added Articles 5, second and third paragraphs; 6, third and fourth paragraphs and 12; eighth and ninth paragraphs.

Among the main changes approved include: the modification of Article 11 to clarify that broadcast signals will be broadcast for concessionaires of restricted television in each and every one of their packages and with the highest quality available. That is, if the signal broadcast is available in high definition, the concessionaire of restricted TV service shall offer it in their packages of High Definition (HD) and in Definition Standard (SD) for those without the HD package. If the broadcast signal is only available in standard definition, then the concessionaire of restricted television services will include it solely in the SD packages.

Moreover, the Plenary approved to submit for public consultation the Rules Draft for the granting of authorizations in telecommunications matters under the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law, pursuant to the provisions of Articles 170 and 171 of the Law.

The document will be available in the website of the Institute to those interested, for comments and opinions, general rules that establish the requirements and deadlines are included, for applications for authorization submitted before the IFT of the following activities:

• Establish and operate or use a marketer of telecommunications services without the character of concessionaire;

• Install, operate or use earth stations to transmit satellite signals;

• Install telecommunications equipment and transmission means crossing borders country;

• Exploit allowances and reception of signals and frequency bands associated with foreign satellite systems that cover and can provide services in the country;

• Temporarily use spectrum bands for diplomatic visits.

This exercise in transparency and citizen participation will be open for a period of 20 working days, counted from the day of its publication in the Internet portal of the Institute www.ift.org.mx

The provisions contained in the Draft seek to equip stakeholders of the regulation that provides the procedural requirements of applications that are promoted, provide legal certainty to the regulated agents in such procedures and helping to improve labor and administrative management.

It should be noted that the Authorizations Rules Draft is not applicable to the Preponderant Economic Agent in the telecommunications sector or for concessionaires that are part of this economic, because Article 174 of the Law provides that none of them can participate directly or indirectly in any marketing services company.

Moreover, the Plenary adopted the Declaration of Principles of the Institute, from which the public servants of this regulatory body will guide their work, consistent with the established in the legal framework governing it. The principles under which officials govern their action are: Autonomy, Objectivity and Impartiality, Effectiveness and Efficiency, Transparency, Legality and Certainty, Institutional Loyalty, Accountability, Professionalism, Honesty and Equality, seeking always to the benefit of society.

These principles govern all public servants and the Institute without exception of activity, level or function. In this sense, compliance depends on the commitment and judgment of the Institute staff, so not replace or modify the validity of the regulations applicable to them in the exercise of its functions and shall promote public service vocation and sense of belonging.

The Declaration of Principles will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Portal Institute.

Plenary also approved the Code of Conduct for Public Officials of the Institute, which define the rules of behavior that should guide the behavior of Institute public servants in the performance of their jobs, charges and commissions, to specific situations presented to them.

With this guide to the exercise of the powers of Institute public servants, lays a solid foundation for preserving the credibility of IFT as a regulatory authority and independent, professional, efficient and transparent competition, contributing to the development of telecommunications and broadcasting, the advance of information society and knowledge in our country, and thereby to encourage the improvement of quality of life and development opportunities for all Mexicans.

That is why acts defined by this Code are mandatory for all staff who holds a position, post or commission of any nature in the Federal Institute Telecommunications.

As part of the Institute Basic Guidelines of Behaviors, contained in the Code of Conduct, is will install an Ethics and Inclusion Committee, which will be responsible for promoting a culture of integrity in the workplace, as well as practices of inclusion and non-discrimination to form a stimulating and participatory work climate; sustained in trust, respect for the dignity, diversity and equity, which contributes to the fulfillment of the objectives and institutional goals.

The Code of Conduct shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Portal of the Institute.

On the other hand, the Plenary decided to impose sanctions and declare the loss of property for the benefit of Nation of equipment for the use of radio spectrum without the grant, permit, authorization or assignment in the towns of Naucalpan, State of Mexico (Frequency 159.4875 MHz) and in Monterrey, Nuevo León (frequency 157 810 MHz).