IrelandOffline, an independent organisation working to bring affordable Internet access services to Ireland, has voiced strong concerns about the recent redraft of theCommunications (Regulation) Bill by the Department of Public Enterprise.
One of the key initiatives of the Bill has been to introduce higher penalties for the infringement of conditions laid down for the operators of telecommunications licences.
The redraft of the Communications (Regulation) Bill sets these penalties at a maximum of one million euro
IrelandOffline says it is seriously concerned about this maximum penalty, as it believes that it will fall far short of the penalties set out in the original draft of the Bill, at the greater figure of €500,000 or 10 per cent of annual turnover.
"The previous fixed figure of €500,000 gives the impression that penalties have improved, but when percentages are compared on revenues of two billion euro, the new maximum fine of one million euro calculates to just 0.05 per cent of turnover, as against the penalty of 10 per cent turnover set out in the original draft," IrelandOffline Public Relations Officer, Adam Beecher, said.
"Of course, a penalty of one million euro is a vast improvement on the current situation, where the maximum fine the Regulator can levy is just IR£1500, but we have very serious doubts that these penalties will give the new Commission the "teeth" it needs to regulate licence holders and discourage regulatory breaches.
"A million Euro is a lot to you and me, but it's a drop in the ocean to an organisation of Eircom's size and might. I would suggest that they spend as much on advertising every month."
IrelandOffline says that, until now, it has been very supportive of the Bill up, and that it had been encouraging both the Government and representative organisations to push the Bill forward wherever possible.
"We remain convinced that the Bill is the way forward for Ireland, and are particularly supportive of the creation of a new three-person Regulatory Commission," he added.
"At this stage though, we are concerned that Eircom and the Other Licenced Operators may be lobbying the Government in an attempt to seriously hobble the Bill before it gets to the President."