Page 71 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Consultation Process with Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) & Its Members

The Rules titled “The Removal and response on the consultation framework. stakeholders, remaining within the legal
Blocking of Unlawful Online Content Besides, AIC members Facebook, Google provisions and the tenets of the Constitution
(Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards), and Twitter were also approached for of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the
Rules 2020” have been notified by the consultation individually, as desired by the PECA 2016. The right to freedom of speech
Federal Government vide notification dated AIC. Google and Facebook participated and expression has duly been included in
27 November 2020. These Rules have in the consultation process on 26th and Chapter 2 of the Rules, in accordance with
been framed as a statutory requirement 29th June 2020, respectively. Hence, AIC’s Article 19 of the Constitution of Islamic
under Section 37(2) of the Prevention stance that meaningful consultation was Republic of Pakistan. PTA wishes to dispel
of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA). A not carried out is misleading and against prejudiced and wrong impression being
comprehensive consultation process was the facts. Since timelines were to be created regarding the Rules. It is reiterated
carried out by the Consultation Committee followed by the Committee for finalization that the Rules in no sense aim to harm the
formed on the directions of the Prime of its report based on the Honorable business environment in Pakistan rather
Minister of Pakistan. During the process, Islamabad High Court order dated 12-09- would pave the way for better investment
key local and international stakeholders 2019 and Federal Government directions opportunities for tech companies while
were invited in the interest of broad-based vide Consultation Committee notification remaining compliant with local laws.
consultation, active engagement and open dated 28th February 2020, the process PTA, as telecom sector regulator, shall
dialogue including Asian Internet Coalition could not be kept open-ended and continue to support all tech companies
(AIC) and its members i.e., Google, prolonged indefinitely. Therefore, after and stakeholders in realizing digital
Facebook, Twitter etc. The Committee held due consultation, the final report of the transformation goals, within the bounds of
meeting with AIC on 19 June, 2020. During Committee was submitted to the Federal the country’s laws and relevant rules.
the meeting, the Committee and the AIC Government, considering all reasonable
exchanged views on the AIC submitted concerns and recommendations of

Loon Pushes FCC for E-Band Access

Alphabet subsidiary Loon pressed the US comments were part of a consultation using antennas in motion would not
Federal Communications Commission process launched by the FCC in June. interfere with fixed backhaul. Verizon
(FCC) to allow it to tap spectrum between Industry group CTIA previously dismissed pressed the FCC to focus on updating rules
70GHz and 90GHz (E-band), aiming to Loon’s proposal as “premature”, insisting for fixed wireless 5G backhaul and delay
overcome resistance from operators “significant additional engineering approval for antennas in motion until new
seeking to use it for 5G backhaul. analysis” was required to prove services interference studies are completed.
Documents showed the company argued
its case in a series of recent meetings with
FCC staff, stating the regulator could adopt
new rules opening the frequencies to air-
and sea-based connectivity services
which rely on “antennas in motion” without
risking significant interference with fixed
terrestrial systems. It stated existing data
provided sufficient evidence for the move
without waiting for fresh coexistence
research. “Authorizing antennas in motion
will not distract the FCC from, or delay
deployment of, 5G”, Loon argued, stating
the move could boost rural rollouts. It
added an existing registration framework
could be used by terrestrial and aerospace
players to coordinate usage, and backed
dynamic spectrum sharing to “enable even
more efficient and innovative use”. Loon’s

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