The Minister responsible for telecommunications, in exercise of the power conferred by section 66 of the Telecommunications Act 1986, makes the following Order:

Citation

1.- This Order may be cited as the Telecommunications (Bermuda Cablevision Limited) Exemption Order 2012.

Exemption from sections 23 and 24 of the Telecommunications Act 1986

2.- Bermuda Cablevision Limited is exempted from :

(a) giving notice under section 23 of the Telecommunications Act 1986 in respect of :

(i) the continued transmission on its Economy Tier of channels 7 and 9 for Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited;

(ii) the transmission of channels 7 and 9 in both standard definition and high definition;

(iii) the addition, to its Economy Tier, of two new channels (unrelated to channels 7 and 9); and

(iv) an increase, subject to paragraph 3, in the subscription rate for the Deluxe Tier, Super Tier and Variety Tier; and

(b) getting approval, or any other direction, from the Commission under section 23 or 24 of the Telecommunications Act 1986 in respect of :

(i) the services referred to in subparagraph (a)(i), (ii) and (iii); and

(ii) the increase in the rates referred to in subparagraph (a)(iv).

Conditions

3.-

(1) The exemptions granted by paragraphs 2(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv) (read with paragraph 2(b)) are subject to the condition that Bermuda Cablevision Limited is to continue to transmit channels 7 and 9 for Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited.

(2) The exemption granted by paragraph 2(a)(iv) (read with paragraph 2(b)) is subject to the condition that the rate for each of those three tiers is not to be increased by more than $2.50 so that :

(a) subscribers to the Deluxe Tier pay no more than $47.50 (i.e. an increase of $2.50 from $45);

(b) subscribers to the Super Tier pay no more than $57.50 (i.e. an increase of $2.50 from $55); and

(c) subscribers to the Variety Tier pay no more than $75.50 (i.e. an increase of $2.50 from $73).

Expiration

4.- This Order shall expire on 31 October 2014.

Made this 18th day of July 2012

Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy