Address: 13 - 19 Harbour Street, Kingston, Jamaica, W.I.
Telephone: 876-967-7948
Fax: 876-922-4093
Email: info@sma.gov.jm
Web Site: http://www.sma.gov.jm
The Spectrum Management Authority (“SMA” or “the Authority) is a limited liability company wholly owned by the Government of Jamaica and is an agency within the Information and Telecommunications Department of the Office of the Prime Minister. It was established in 2000 pursuant to the Telecommunications Act, 2000 and became operational in April 2001.
The SMA is the national regulator for the radio frequency spectrum and, as such, is an advisory body to the Minister with principal responsibility for telecommunications who has the responsibility for the regulation of the spectrum under the Telecommunications Act, 2000 .
The Authority is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister. The daily operations of the SMA are overseen by its Managing Director.
The SMA works closely with other related regulatory agencies, including the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), the Broadcasting Commission, the Fair Trading Commission, and the National Environment & Planning Agency, in formulating policy and legislation in relation to the communications industry.
Services
The Authority’s main functions are:
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To license and/or authorise users of the spectrum
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To collect the relevant fees associated with the use of the spectrum
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To preserve the spectrum rights of all legitimate users of the spectrum
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To ensure the maintenance of frequency bands that are free from interference and unauthorised use.
Enabling Legislation
The Spectrum Management Authority was established pursuant to Section 21 of the Telecommunications Act, 2000. According to the Act, the function of the Authority shall be to advise the Minister on any matter referred to it by the Minister and to perform any function delegated to it by the Minister.
In keeping with the recommendations of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Authority was established as an independent regulatory body responsible for managing the radio frequency spectrum. This was against the background of Jamaica’s international commitments to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) telecommunications agreement, and the policy objectives enunciated by the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) with respect to the telecommunications sector.
Senior Management
Henry Batson - Director, Spectrum Engineering
Ida-Gaye Warburton - Director, Legal Affairs
Patrick Brown - Director, Finance & Administration
George Malcolm - Manager, Policy & Strategic Planning
Dawn Staple - Human Resources Officer
Board Of Directors
Chairman
Mr. Chris Honeywell
Deputy Chairman
Dr. Denzil Williams
Ms. Sophia Fraiser-Binns
Mr. Adrian St. Louis
Mr. Desmond Palmer
Mr. Mario Mitchell
Ms. Danielle Hickling
Ms. Shynelle Anderson
Mr. Pierre Shirley
Mr. Andrew Geohagen
Ms. Marlene DeMercado
Ms. Olivia Leigh Campbell
*board appointed for two (2) years effective February 13, 2012*
Other Useful Information
The Authority is self-funded through a cost-recovery mechanism which requires that spectrum licensees pay spectrum licence fees and regulatory fees for use of the radio frequency spectrum.
Spectrum licence fees are collected on behalf of the GOJ; these fees are paid into the Consolidated Fund.
Regarding regulatory fees, a mechanism was developed in consultation with spectrum users and was formalised by the Telecommunications (Spectrum Regulatory Fees) Regulations, 2003.
diGBoard