US regulator applauds telecom strides in Nigeria

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States has applauded its Nigeria’s counterpart, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over strides recorded in the nation’s telecom industry.

FCC also said Nigeria has made strides which has placed the country at par with several advanced nations of the world.

Confirming this in a press statement made available to Champion Infotech, Head, Media and Public Relations at NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, quoted Commissioner of FCC, Ms Mignon Clyborn, as remarking at a meeting with Nigerian delegation who visited FCC recently, that after comparing notes about how Nigeria has strived to better the sector over the past years.

Clyburn who is one of the five Commissioners who supervised the activities of the telecom and broadcast regulatory body in the USA, said that the Nigerian regulator, appeared ahead of other African countries and indeed, some more advanced countries of the world in telecom regulation.

Also, Ms Clyburn said that the visit, the first time of its kind to be hosted by the Commission for a delegation of telecom regulatory institution from Africa.

Further, she said, FCC is keen on how Nigeria and indeed Africa marches on to exploit the benefits of telecom and ICT.

The two-day meeting hosted by the FCC under its International Visitors Programme (IVP), discussed issues of mutual bilateral telecom regulatory best practices, with an interactive session where the two telecom regulators exchanged ideas on the different dimensions and challenges and agreed to continue to share idea and information.

Some issues that topped the agenda at the meeting include telecom compliance and enforcement regulation, universal service, competition and interconnection, rule making procedures and ethics among others.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, who was accompanied by the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Peter Igoh and Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Mr. Okechukwu Itanyi, noted that part of NCC’s success was as a result of non- interference by the government in telecom regulation.

He pointed out that during the issuance of licenses to operators and the transparency that attends the process at all times.

He also told the FCC officials comprising Donald Stockdale, Chief Economist, Tom Peters, Chief Engineer, Wireless Telecom Bureau, Thomas Beers, Chief Policy Division, Timothy Peterson, Chief of Staff, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Eric bash, Associate Chief Enforcement Bureau, among other senior officials that the NCC in Nigeria is also seeking ways of enriching the legal requirements of advancing the Nigerian telecom industry by supporting sector focused workshop for judges in Nigeria so that they will be fully equipped to face the challenges and dimensions of emerging technologies and services.

ITRealms Online recalls that FCC is the independent telecom and regulatory agency of the USA established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with the responsibility of regulating interstate and international communications.

Remmy Nweke:
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