Decision No. 43/2006/QĐ-BBCVT on the List of Public Interest Telecommunication Services

Pursuant to …;

On the List of Public Telecommunication Services

THE MINISTER OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Pursuant to the Postal and Telecommunications Ordinance dated May 25, 2002;

Pursuant to Decree No. 160/2004/NĐ-CP dated September 3, 2004 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Postal and Telecommunications Ordinance on telecommunication;

Pursuant to Decree No. 90/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 11, 2002 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications;

Pursuant to Decision No. 191/2004/QĐ-TTg dated December 8, 2004 of the Prime Minister on the establishment, organization, and operation of the Vietnam Public Telecommunication Service Fund;

Pursuant to Decision No. 74/2006/QĐ-TTg dated April 7, 2006 of the Prime Minister approving the Program for Providing Public Telecommunication Services until 2010;

Based on the proposal of the Director of the Telecommunications Department.

DECISION:

Article 1. The list of public telecommunication services includes:

1.1. Universal telecommunication service

a) Standard telephone service is the telephone service within the local area between fixed-line or wireless telephone subscribers of the PSTN or IP network with local call rates and service quality standards as prescribed by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

b) Standard Internet access service is the Internet access service via dial-up or broadband methods with rates and service quality standards as prescribed by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

1.2. Compulsory telecommunication service

a) Emergency medical assistance communication (115), fire rescue (114), police (113).

b) Directory inquiry service for local number lookup (116).

c) Telecommunication and Internet services required by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications for enterprises to provide according to specific target groups, communication methods, scope, and time periods for the following emergency situations:

- Defense and security emergencies;

- Emergencies related to flood control, typhoons, fires, natural disasters, and other catastrophes;

- Emergencies related to disease prevention and control;

- Emergencies related to search and rescue operations;

- Operation and emergency response activities to ensure the safety of telecommunication and Internet networks;

- Other emergency communications as prescribed by laws on emergency situations.

Article 2. Public telecommunication services must ensure reasonable cost conditions for establishing, maintaining, and operating the network and equipment. Depending on specific circumstances, characteristics at each locality during different periods, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications will decide on the use of technology, reasonable costs, network and equipment setup methods, and consider supporting enterprises in establishing, maintaining, and operating the network and equipment to provide public telecommunication services.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 4. The Heads of the Office; Directors of the Departments of Telecommunications, Planning and Finance; Members of the Management Board and Director of the Vietnam Public Telecommunication Service Fund; Heads of units under the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications; General Directors and Directors of enterprises providing public telecommunication services and related units are responsible for implementing this Decision./.