Telecommunications Reform 2019
Competition and Regulatory Authority
The Competition & Regulatory Authority is a statutory body, which acts independently of the government of the day, in the exercise of economic and technical regulatory powers and functions, over sectors designated by Act of the Cook Islands Parliament.
As at 1 March 2021, telecommunications is the sector subject to the Authority’s jurisdiction, under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act 2019.
The Authority comprises up to three members, being suitably qualified individuals, appointed by the Minister in charge, on the recommendation of a special purpose Evaluation Committee. The Committee is made up of the Financial Secretary, the Public Service Commissioner, and the Solicitor-General.
Appointment of Chair of the Competition and Regulatory Authority - February 2020
The Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Mark Brown, today announced the appointment of Mr Bernard Hill as the inaugural member and Chair of the new Cook Islands Competition and Regulatory Authority.
Final policy and legislation - December 2019
The final Cook Islands Telecommunications Market Competition Policy 2019, which sets out the Government’s plans to open up the Cook Islands telecommunications market to competition has been released.
The legislation that gives effect to this Policy — the Competition and Regulatory Authority Act 2019 and the Telecommunications Act 2019 — was passed in the December 2019 Parliamentary sittings.
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Final Cook Islands Telecommunications Market Competition Policy
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Explanatory Note Competition and Regulatory Authority Bill 2019
Public meetings - October 2019
Members of the public are welcome to attend three public meetings on Rarotonga to consult on the telecommunications reform plans and draft legislation:
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11.30 am Friday 25th October, Parekura, New Hope Church Hall
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6pm Wednesday 30th October 2019, Calvary Hall, Arorangi
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6pm Thursday 31st October 2019, Titikaveka, Sunday School Hall
Draft policy and legislation
The draft Cook Islands Telecommunications Market Competition Policy 2019 was published in May 2019. The draft policy sets out the Government’s plans to open up the Cook Islands telecommunications market to competition. The draft legislation that will give effect to this Policy — the Competition and Regulatory Authority Bill 2019 and the Telecommunications Bill 2019 — has been released for public consultation.
The draft Bills are available for download below — or can be obtained by either contacting the MFEM Economic Planning Division on 29511 or via email at MFEM.economics@cookislands.gov.ck.
Submissions can be sent to MFEM by post at PO Box 120, Avarua; via e-mail at MFEM.economics@cookislands.gov.ck, or lodged in person at Level 1, MFEM Building, Avarua. Submissions will be treated as public, unless confidentiality is requested. If a party wishes to request confidential treatment of any part(s) of its submission, that party must:
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identify the part(s) of its submission in respect of which it asserts confidentiality;
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set out the reason(s) for those part(s) of the submission to be treated as confidential; and
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provide a redacted public version of the submission, for publication.