Paraguay is preparing a new law to regulate the country’s growing Internet-based TV services, specifically targeting the taxation of over-the-top (OTT) operators.
The announcement was made by congressman Dany Durand during the Centreo de Estudios para el Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones de América Latina (CERTAL) summit.
According to Durand, the law won’t be a traditional media regulation, as this is banned by the constitution, but rather a law intended to fill the gap between regulated pay-TV operators and online service providers. He cited Netflix as a case in point, as the American subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service doesn’t pay the same taxes as local cable companies.
During CERTAL, held in the Paraguayan capital Asunción, many official voices pointed out the need for an OTT regulation in Latin America which guarantees competition.
In fact, Paraguay is not the first country to consider regulating a booming OTT industry. Argentina tried to do so locally in Buenos Aires in 2014, and Brazil is currently debating the necessity of a specific law for VOD platforms.
Source: http://www.rapidtvnews.com/2016082244045/paraguay-plans-to-tax-ott-providers.html#axzz4I4dRavLO