TELECOMMUNICATIONS LICENSING CONDITIONS: IRELAND

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000814 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EB/CIP TIMOTHY C. FINTON PLEASE PASS TO USTR JONATHAN MCHALE/PAUL NEUREITER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS ETRD SUBJECT: TELECOMMUNICATIONS LICENSING CONDITIONS: IRELAND REF: STATE 114687 On June 29, Post discussed reftel questions regarding telecoms licensing conditions with Hugh Tuckey, Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) Manager for Strategic Resources. Tuckey noted that Ireland does not assess fees for licensing fixed line services in excess of the amount necessary to cover administrative costs. To cover such costs, Ireland imposes an annual administrative levy, in line with the March 7, 2002, EU Directive on the Authorization of Electronic Communications Networks and Services (Directive 2002/20/EC). The levy is 0.2 percent of a licensed firm's annual turnover. Telecoms firms with less than euro 500,000 turnover, however, are exempt from the levy. Tuckey added that Ireland imposes neither capitalization/bonding requirements nor build-out investment requirements. KENNY