Pedro Jaime Ziller, head of the Communications Ministry?s new telecommunications department, made a point of stressing that if any telco should show signs of losing interest in continuing to provide basic telephone service in Brazil because of the terms of reference proposed for the new licenses due to come into force in 2006, the Government will immediately organize a competitive bidding.
?This will be our way of clearly demonstrating that the Government has no plans to take the industry back into state ownership,? he said.
Nevertheless, it isn?t absolutely clear if telcos can change their minds about whether or not to renew after next month. This is a relevant question because several decisions won?t have been officially announced by then. An example is the new method for public-service tariff review. Asked about this possibility, Mr Ziller said he wasn?t sure. ?That?s a matter for lawyers to consider,? he said.
Telecom policy
