Lowering of fees for some users of the RF spectrum

ZAGREB, 11 November 2014 – The Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) adopted a new Ordinance on the payment of fees for the carrying out of tasks under its competence. The Ordinance lays down the fees for the carrying out of certain tasks under the competence of the network regulator, such as user protection, RF spectrum management and management of the addressing and numbering space, inspection tasks and regulation of the electronic communications, postal and rail services markets. Certain fees for legal and natural persons using the RF spectrum have been once again lowered this year by the Ordinance.
 
Amendments to the Ordinance include the elimination of frees for the majority of radio broadcasters, and halving of the fees for the remaining broadcasters. The amounts of fees for microwave links have also been cut in half, and the fee for radio stations for special uses has been introduced for the first time. The former fee for traditional private mobile networks has been, thus, reduced when the spectrum intended for the PRM networks has been allocated for a certain special use, and it has not been sufficiently harmonized to be awarded on the basis of a general authorization. This refers, for example, to a certain frequency “reserved” for dog collars, sports aircraft in the 137-174 MHz band and similar uses.
 
As an independent regulatory authority, HAKOM is financed, in compliance with the EU regulatory framework, exclusively from fees for the carrying out of its tasks and it does not receive funds from the State Budget. Since the beginning of the economic crisis, fees for operator’s business operators have been reduced by 60% for the RF spectrum management sector and by almost 40% for other tasks carried out by HAKOM. The new Ordinance will enter into force 1 January 2015 and it is available at the following link: default.aspx?id=3690

ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.