The Bulgarian delegation led by the Chairman of the Communications Regulation Commission – Veselin Bozhkov, Ph.D., took active part in the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT 2012) in Dubai. The main purpose of the forum was to review the acting at present International Telecommunication Regulations. 

 

The position of the Bulgarian delegation took into utmost account the opinions of the stakeholders expressed within the public consultations procedure conducted by the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications in the period 23 July – 10 September this year. 

 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights approving the right of people on freedom of the opinion and expression was placed for a discussion. Other important problem, which was discussed, was the environmental protection. The ways for reaching energy efficiency were discussed and it was concluded that the ITU Member States have to cooperate with each other in encouraging the operators and the industry for introduction of energy saving communication equipment and installations.  

 

The Bulgarian particular proposals, which found place in the Regulation, were aimed at greater transparency and decreasing the prices of international roaming services in mobile networks. The Bulgarian delegation insisted on elimination of the financial burdens on the consumers regardless of the economic situation in their countries. Bulgaria voted in favor of the proposals for encouraging the competition and supported also other countries for ensuring accessible telecommunications for disabled people.  

 

The text of the revised International Telecommunication Regulations was discussed by the delegates from 193 Member States of the International Telecommunication Union. Despite the consensus reached on provisions related to a number of important issues, the presented final proposal of the document was not acceptable for the EU Member States, including Bulgaria. In the last moment in the document were placed some texts containing political aspects which implied considering them in detail both at national and EU level. The eventual extension of the Regulations’ scope on issues related to the government management and control of Internet, in the opinion of the EU participants, threatens the future of the open Internet and the freedom in the global network. It is forthcoming the European Commission and the Legal Service of the Council of the EU to examine in detail the proposed Regulations regarding its compliance with the EU law and after forming a position to undertake the respective actions. 

 

The Agreement regulating the world telecommunications was signed by 89 countries. 55 countries in total refused to sign the document among which is Bulgaria, as well as all EU Member States.         

 

Bulgaria keeps its right to sign the Regulations and to accede to the contract at any time until its entry into force, namely 01.01.2015. The Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications will submit the amended document for a broad public consultation taking into account the opinion of the Legal Service of the Council of EU.