Mexico City - This morning the Senate approved the Telecommunications Reform, which was then returned to the Chamber of Deputies for review and approval.
Just after 5:00 AM, after a session that began at midnight, the senators approved the law, made eighteen substantive changes, including giving in to the demands of the Business Council on the issue of protection [amparo] and on keeping the "non-binding" opinions of the Secretariats of Communications and Transport, and Treasury to the IFETEL [newly created, autonomous Federal Telecommunications Institute regarding its selection of companies to receive telecommunications concessions].
Fifteen items that had been set aside by the senators were discarded, so the reform bill was approved with 118 votes in favor, three against and zero abstentions.
Changes approved by the Senators include free internet access for the entire population, social concessions for community and indigenous radio stations, and the right of audiences.
Earlier in the afternoon, Senate joint committees on Constitutional Points, Legislative Studies, Communications and Transport and Radio, Television and Cinematography unanimously approved--42 to 0--the draft of the constitutional reform....
Earlier in the afternoon, Senate joint committees on Constitutional Points, Legislative Studies, Communications and Transport and Radio, Television and Cinematography unanimously approved--42 to 0--the draft of the constitutional reform....
The most important changes, previously agreed to by the chairmen of the committees, included a ban on "advertising presented as news or television news or as entertainment", as well as the incorporation of "indigenous and community" concessions that will join [existing] commercial, public and social uses. Spanish original