By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamian communications industry regulator yesterday said disaster management regulations for the sector will be implemented by early 2021.

Charles Kemp, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) electronic communications adviser, told a webinar: “URCA is indeed publishing a set of regulations on ICT (information and communications technology) disaster management. That should be coming into effect during the first trimester of 2021.

“The document outlines what CECIP - that’s critical electronic communications infrastructure providers - should do to their network to make them more resilient before, during and after disaster.”

The regulations will also outline what URCA can do on relaxing restrictions covering equipment that may be designated for disaster mitigation and relief. Their chief purpose, though, is to put in place measures that will strengthen ICT infrastructure to cope with future natural disasters such as a hurricane.

Mr Kemp said a highlight of the proposed regulations is “the proposed establishment and introduction of a multi stakeholder group, which will be referred to as the electronic communications sector disaster management task group”.

Another key feature will be a “national roaming agreement” between CECIPs that would kick-in if, and when, an emergency happens. This will allow Bahamians to roam between providers, using networks different from their own communications provider’s, during a natural disaster or state of emergency.

Speaking to the consultation process involved in drafting the regulations, Mr Kemp said: “We went out to consultation and, even prior to that, we had invited all the key stakeholders. That would have been NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency), the Met Office, the police force, Defence Force, and other members of the general public to give us some insight as to some of the things that we could do to assist in this.”

The regulations will cover situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic as well as Hurricane Dorian. Mr Kemp added: “What these disasters really do is disrupt national economies. They also severely weaken the poor and, in a lot of cases, become major impediments to sustainable development.

“What the study also found is that impact is even worse,when there is no access to basic information and communications facilities to provide living and vital information.”