Notice of intended action for adoption of regulations by the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority

As part of the ongoing telecommunications sector reform process, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA or Authority) is publishing this notice of intended action for adoption of regulations to afford all interested persons reasonable opportunity to submit data, views, or arguments, in writing to the rules and instruments that will govern the telecommunications sector. These include the following draft rules (together referred as the “Rules package” herein):

• The draft Telecommunications Operating License Rules, issued pursuant to section 330 of Title 21 of the Code of the FSM (Telecommunications Act), which establish the types of licenses required under the Telecommunications Act to deploy specified communications networks and provide communications services in the FSM;
• The draft Schedule of Fees, issued pursuant to section 336 of the Telecommunications Act, which establish regulatory fees payable by operating and spectrum licensees in the FSM;
• The draft National Numbering Plan, issued pursuant to section 357 of the Telecommunications Act, which sets forth principles and processes for the management of national numbering resources necessary to offer publicly available telephony and other services;
• The draft Interconnection and Access Rules, issued pursuant to section 341 of the Telecommunications Act, which are aimed at ensuring interoperability of existing and new networks that will be deployed in the FSM; and
• The draft Spectrum Licensing Rules, issued pursuant to section 333 of the Telecommunications Act, which establish the types of licenses that individuals or companies must obtain to use the radio frequency spectrum and deploy radio apparatus in the FSM.

We are issuing this notice as required under section 391(2) of the Telecommunications Act and the regulation-making consultation process set forth under section 102 of Title 17 of the Code of the FSM (Administrative Procedure Act).

We are keen to hear your comments on the proposed rules and instruments. We will be receiving your data, views, or arguments, in writing on the issues raised in this regulation-making process and the draft Rules package during a 30-day period starting after the date of posting of this notice. We will receive comments until 5 pm (local time in Pohnpei, FSM) of the last day of this period. You may submit your written comments to the following email address: consultations@tra.fm or to the following address:

Attention Takuro Akinaga

Chief Executive

FSM Telecommunication Regulation Authority

Suite 1A, Varner-Boylan building

PohnUmpomp, Nett Municipality

Pohnpei FM 96941

Federated States of Micronesia

Accompanying this notice, we are making available a document that provides an overview of this regulation-making process; offers background information of the FSM market and the ongoing liberalization process; describes in further detail the terms and substance of the Rules package; and provides instructions on how to respond to this regulation-making process. We are also making available hard-copies of the Rules package for your review and providing them for download at: http://tra.fm/2nd-round-consultations-2019/

We expect the effective date of the Rules package under consultation will be September 30^th, 2019.

Thank you for considering this request.