THE laws governing the telecommunications sector are being discussed this morning at a public forum and consultation designed to influence the government’s planned overhaul of the Telecommunications Act 2000.

The forum, being hosted by the Jamaica Telecommunications Advisory Council (JTAC), is scheduled to run from 8:30 until midday at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston and is part of a reform process now under way in preparation for full liberalisation of the sector.

Members of the public, as well as other industry stakeholders with views on the future of the industry are expected to attend and participate. They include consumers, community groups, telecommunications providers, regulators, cable television operators, broadcasters and Internet service providers.

The organisers have indicated that there will be open admission and ample opportunity for participants to make their inputs directly to policy makers and key reform advisors attending the consultation.

Among the policy issues to be considered are:

* Deepening of competition in the industry;

* Internet telephony and wireless service delivery;

* Scenarios under full liberalisation;

* Industry and global connectivity;

* Role and future of regulatory institutions;

* Mast sharing and location of cell sites;

* Service delivery to remote and under-served areas;

* Licensing policy and mechanisms for public accountability;

*Policy implications of technology convergence; and

* Quality assurance and customer service.

Contributions on these and other issues will be considered for incorporation into a revised Telecommunications Act and government policy, the organisers said in a news release.

The event will be moderated by chairman of the JTAC Council, Dr Hopeton Dunn, and will open with an address by Industry, Commerce and Technology Minister Philip Paulwell. His junior minister, Senator Aloun Ndombet Assamba, will also address the consultation in the closing stages.