Interpretation

(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires“Act” means the Belize Telecommunications Act; CAP. 229. “basic telecommunication services” means services derived from Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN); “ceiling” means the upper limit for for telecommunication services as specified by the PUC from time to time; “domestic Long Distance Telecommunication Service” means the telecommunication services required to connect one local area of a public telecommunication network to another within the territorial limits of Belize so as to allow for transmission of voice and non-voice signals across different geographical areas; 26 Telecommunications “floor” means the lower limit of a tariff or a telecommunication service as specified by the PUC from time to time below which such tariffs may not be offered; “forbearance” denotes that the PUC has not, for the time being, notified any tariff or a particular telecommunication service and the service provider is free to fix any tariff for such service; “International Direct Dialling” means direct interconnection between an end user in Belize with another end user in another country by means of direct dialling through public networks; “International Long Distance Telecommunication Service” means telecommunications required to connect a local area of a public telecommunication network within Belize to a local area of a public telecommunication network in another country so as to allow for the transmission of voice and non-voice signals; “leased circuits” means telecommunication facilities leased to subscribers or service providers to provide for technology transparent transmission capacity between network termination points which the user can control as part of the leased circuit provision and which may include systems allowing flexible use of lease circuit bandwidth; “non-discrimination” means that service providers shall not, in the matter of application of tariffs, discriminate between subscribers of the same class and such classification of subscribers shall not be arbitrary; “reporting requirement” means the obligation of a service provider to report to the PUC at least five working days before implementing any new tariff for telecommunication services under these Regulations and any changes thereafter; “special services” includes those support and ancillary services like directory enquiry, operator assistance, fault repair, billing and general queries, emergency services calls, pay phones and the printed version of an annual directory; Telecommunications 27 “standard package” means a package of tariffs which, inter alia, comprises rental, call charges, free calls, deposits and other charges as may be determined by the PUC for specific telecommunication from time to time; “subscriber” means an end user of telecommunication services; “supplementary services” means services which are provided specific to a subscriber’s directory number and controlled either by the subscriber or by the service provider such as automatic alarm call service, call waiting, call diversion on busy or no reply, and any other such service; “tariffs” means rates and related conditions at which telecommunication services within Belize and outside Belize may be provided including rates and related conditions at which messages shall be transmitted to any country outside Belize, deposits, installation fees, rental, free calls, usage charges and any other related fees or service charges; “Transitional Period” means the period from the 21st December, 2002 to the 30th April, 2004 inclusive. (2) The words and expressions used in these Regulations and not defined herein but defined in the Act shall have the same meaning respectively assigned to them in the Act.