Mexico: Supreme Court reinforces telco watchdog powers

Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled Monday that the nation’s telecommunications regulator has the power to enforce policies recently adopted in a constitutional reformation, a decision made after Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto had asked the court to intervene in the case.

The nation’s new Federal Telecommunications Institute was forced to suspend an earlier ruling over a legal battle between Televisa and Dish Mexico after a judge in Mexico City prevented the regulator from enforcing one of the reformations.

That reform, known as the “must carry, must offer” policy, was adapted to boost broadcast, internet and telephone competition throughout the nation by requiring pay-television operators to carry public broadcasting. In return, the broadcasters must offer their signals to the pay-TV operators.

The Supreme Court overturned the lower court’s ruling that suspended the telco watchdog’s ability to enforce the policy, noting that “the constitution says that the appropriate authority in this matter” is the telco regulator.

Full Content: Swiss Info

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