In contrast to the measures taken by some neighboring countries, the government reported that at the local level, charges for water, electricity, Internet and telephone services will not be suspended.
Authorities argued that at the moment it is not possible to postpone payments, as few basic services are provided by the government in the country.
Ebal Diaz, Secretary of State, told Laprensa.hn that "...
If the Sutel's proposal is approved, on December Costa Rica will eliminate the tariff regulation for the international telephone, internet and postpaid cellular telephony markets.
From a statement issued by the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel):
The Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel), has started a process of public consultation of the technical analysis of the telecommunications markets.
The only countries in America where mobile phone prices are still regulated are El Salvador and Costa Rica. It is no coincidence that these countries are among the last in the rankings for speed of mobile internet services.
EDITORIAL
And it is no coincidence that these two countries also suffer from the existence of the heaviest controlling bureaucracies in the Central American isthmus, with clear consequences for the slow adaptation to changes experienced by the global economy, particularly globalization.
Transparency in governance and better use of productive resources in an economy are not achieved by appealing to good personal intentions, but by observing basic principles of management.
EDITORIAL
The government's candidate for the office of Controller General of Public Services sees "no inconsistency" in serving in this position, while at the same time being on sabbatical leave from a company which is a provider of those services.
The Superior Council of Private Enterprise has presented to the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services a request for judicial review of "Administrative Agreement 003-2015, Regulations for the payment of duties and taxes."
From a statement issued by COSEP:
The analysis we have carried out in COSEP, in conjunction with the Internet Association of Nicaragua, leads us to understand that we are facing a new decision on the part the regulator, which as well as not being consulted on, if implemented, will alter the framework of competitiveness of the telecommunications market, will raise rates and jeopardize the viability of investments, especially of small enterprises, affecting the market and inevitably raising costs for end users.
Taxes of $0.65 per activated telephone line and per cement bag distributed, were canceled in September 2014 on grounds of unconstitutionality in their processing.
The Finance Committee of the Congress is considering a new version of the tax on cement, and the presentation of a proposal to impose the phone tax again has been announced.
An article on Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "...
In order to finance public safety the government is proposing charging a 10% tax on the consumption of telecommunications services and the purchase of devices for ten years.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of El Salvador:
Government presents to the Legislature proposal on special contributions for security
The government of President Salvador Sanchez Ceren submitted to the Legislature the proposed Law on Special Contributions for Citizen Security and Coexistence, which will provide resources for the State so that it can continue to promote actions to generate in El Salvador a climate free of social violence and crime which is key to making progress in inclusive development.
Six years after the market opened, authorities are assessing whether competition is effective in order to eliminate caps and free up rates for mobile telephony and the internet.
The methodology for determining whether or not there is effective or genuine competition in the telecommunications market has already been approved and the Telecommunications Regulator expects to have the results no later than the end of the year.
In Congress doubts are being voiced over the effectiveness of the application of a tax of $0.65 per phone line and $13 for call centers.
Among the nine challenges presented by deputies to the proposal to place a tax on phones, the lack of definition of the use of funds and details about who should pay the tax stand out the most, in particular whether it should be the user or the business who pays.
The application of tax of $0.65 per mobile phone line that had been proposed by the Executive to fund part of the 2015 budget has been temporarily suspended.
The Constitutional Court temporarily suspended the collection of the tax on telephone lines after the Chamber of Industry and the three phone companies operating in the country submitted an appeal against the tax.
The Foundation for Development in Guatemala argues that there is a lack of technical justifications for new taxes and lack of transparency in approving the 2015 budget.
From a statement issued by the Foundation for the Development of Guatemala (FUNDESA):
The Foundation for the Development of Guatemala - FUNDESA - expressed concern about the non-transparent way in which the General Budget of the Nation for 2015 was approved, and the lack of technical studies to support various tax increases, including both the one applied to telephony and the distribution of cement, as well as the excessive increase in royalties.
In response to approval of a new tax of $0.65 per telephone line, operating companies have returned 6 million lines to the Telecommunications Superintendency.
Representatives from Claro, Tigo and Telefónica each returned 2 million inactive numbers with the aim of adjusting their internal policies to adapt to the new tax which will come into effect next year.
The argument is that the tax on cement will increase the cost of housing by at least 6% and the tax on phones will directly affect users of prepaid telephone lines.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala:
The Chamber of Industry of Guatemala emphasizes that even though it promptly denounced the risk of lack of transparency and accountability of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2015, it has been approved and will lead to negative impacts on the population.
Operators of the telecommunications market in Costa Rica are calling for intervention by the regulator in rates to be removed and for operations to be carried out within a framework of real commercial freedom.
After more than six years of having promoted laws which opened up the telecommunications market in Costa Rica, no operator has the ability to unilaterally set final prices or manipulate conditions in the telecommunications market.
The industry is calling for effective competition to be allowed with the market setting rates and not the Telecommunications Regulator.
Operators of telephony and internet services are asking for the establishment of maximum rates by the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (Sutel) to be eliminated, applying what is contemplated in the Telecommunications Act, which allows the possibility of not intervening in the setting of rates.
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