The Regulatory Affairs Branch oversees the regulation and licensing of public telecommunications services, enforces licence conditions and administers the telecommunications numbering plan. The responsibilities of the Branch also include providing advice on regulatory accounting to the Telecommunications Authority, monitoring the performance of public telecommunications operators, investigating industry complaints regarding public telecommunications services, facilitating public mobile network operators' access to land to place radiocommunications installations and coordinating the laying of ducts for telecommunications in public roads.
The Competition Affairs Branch is concerned with the enforcement of the competition rules prohibiting anti-competitive practices and misleading conduct. It also handles determinations and mediations to resolve industry disputes related to interconnection, sharing of facilities and access. It is responsible for providing market-related assessments in the consideration of regulatory policy. In addition, it provides advice on the implementation of competition provisions in the Broadcasting Ordinance.
The Operations Branch manages Hong Kong's radio frequency spectrum, provides advice to the government on telecommunications matters and renders technical support in the regulation of broadcasting services. Its responsibilities also include co-ordinating the use of radiocommunications and broadcasting frequencies with the Mainland and the Macau authorities, licensing private telecommunications services, investigating poor broadcast reception and recommending technical solutions, investigating radio interference and radiation hazard complaints, prosecuting illegal use of telecommunications equipment, administering examination and certification of maritime radio operation personnel and co-ordinating access to common parts of buildings by operators for the purpose of installing telecommunications/ broadcasting equipment and wirings.
The Support Branch enforces the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance (except the parts related to fraudulent activities) which regulates the sending of commercial electronic messages, oversees technical standards and international affairs, and implements OFTA's public relations and administrative functions. On the technical side, its portfolio covers the regulation and licensing of communications satellite systems and services, ensuring compliance with various international agreements, developing technical standards and approving related equipment. On the administrative side, it is responsible for communicating with the media, responding to public enquiries, organising publicity and public relations events, conducting consumer education programmes, handling consumer complaints pertaining to suspected breach of provisions in the Telecommunications Ordinance and licence conditions, and devising information technology, human resources and financial management strategies.
A text version chart showing the organisation of OFTA is at Appendix.
A chart showing the organisation of OFTA is at Appendix. |
