OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA 3rd Year No . 5 ADDIS ABABA – 28th November , 1996 CONTENTS Proclamation No . 49 / 1996 Telecommunication Proclamation . . . . . . . . . . . Page 274 PROCLAMATION NO . 49 / 1996 A PROCLAMATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS WHEREAS , telecommunication service performs an essential role in the Country ' s economic and social develop ment ; WHEREAS , the establishment of a separate regulatory organ other than the operator and the prescription of regulatory provisions are found necessary to make the telecommunication service more efficient and reliable ; NOW , THEREFORE , in accordance with Article 55 ( 1 ) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia , it is hereby Proclaimed as follows : PART ONE General 1 . Short Title This Proclamation may be cited as the ' ' telecommunication Proclamation No . 49 / 1996 . ” 2 . Definitions In this Proclamation , unless the context requires otherwise : 1 ) “ telecommunication " means the emission , transmis sion or reception , through the agency of electricity or electromagnetism , of any sounds , signs , signals , WWW . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com writing , images or intelligence of any nature by wire , radio , optical or other electromagnetic systems whether or not such signs , signals , writing , images , sounds or intelligence have been subjected to rearrangement , computation or other processes by any means in the course of their transmission , emission or reception ; “ telecommunication line ” means any wire , cable , tower , mast , antenna , pole or any other structure or equipment used or intended to be used in connection with a telecommunication system ; 3 ) " basic telecommunication service ” means telephone , telegram or telex service ; 4 ) “ telecommunication equipment ” includes any ap pliance , apparatus or accessory ' used or intended to be used for telecommunication services ; 5 ) “ TVRO ” means an apparatus used only for the reception of satellite television broadcasts ; 6 ) " call - back service ” means the use of dial tone of a foreign telecommunication operator for inter national connections without the knowledge of the domestic telecommunication operator ; 7 ) “ Ministry ” and Minister ” means the Ministry and Minister of Transport and communication , respec tively ; 8 ) “ person ” means a natural or ajuridical person . PART TWO The Telecommunication Agency 3 . Establishment 1 ) The Ethiopian Telecommunication Agency ( hereinaf ter the agency ' ' ) is hereby established as an autonomous federal agency having its own legal personality 2 ) The Agency shall be accountable to the Ministry . 4 . Head Office The Agency shall have its head office in Addis Ababa and may have branch offices elsewhere as may be necessary . 5 . Objectives The objectives of the Agency shall be to promote the development of high quality , efficient , reliable and affordable telecommunication services . 6 . Powers and Duties The Agency shall have the following powers and duties : 1 ) to ensure that telecommunication services are operated in a manner that will best serve and contribute to the Country ' s economic and social development ; www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com 2 ) to specify technical standards and procedures for the provision of telecommunication services ; 3 ) to ensure that telecommunication services conform to the specified standards of quality ; 4 ) to regulate tariffs relating to basic telecom munication services ; 5 ) to license and supervise operators of telecom munication services ; 6 ) to regulate types of telecommunication equipment which may be connected to a telecommunication system ; 7 ) to authorize and supervise the use of frequencies allotted to Ethiopia ; where authorized by the Minister , subject to the appropriate laws and government directives , to represent the Government in international conferen ces and international organizations concerned with telecommunications ; and to follow up the implemen tation of treaties dealing with telecommunications to which Ethiopia is a party . 9 ) to collaborate with educational institutions in order to promote technical education in the fields of telecommunications ; to collect licence fees in accordance with the rate approved by the Ministry ; 11 ) to own property , to enter into contracts and to sue and be sued in its own name ; 12 ) to perform such other related activities as may be necessary for the attainment of its objectives . | 7 . Management of the Agency 1 ) The Agency shall have a General Manager , to be appointed by the Government upon the recommen dation of the Minister , and the necessary staff ; 2 ) The General Manger shall be the chief executive officer of the agency and shall , subject to the general directives of the Minister , direct and administer the activities of the Agency ; : 3 ) Without limiting the generality of sub - Article ( 2 ) of this Article , the General Manager shall : . ( a ) exercise the powers and duties of the Agency specified under Article 6 of this Proclamation ; employ and administer the employees of the Agency in accordance with directives approved by the Government following the basic prin ciples of the federal civil service laws ; ( c ) prepare and submit to the Ministry the programme and budget of the Agency ; and implement same upon approval , ( d ) • effect expenditure in accordance with the bud get approved for the agency ; . ( e ) represent the agency in all its dealings with third parties ; prepare and submit to the Ministry the activity and financial reports of the agency . ( b ) . www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com 4 . The General manager may delegate part of his powers and duties to the employees of the Agency to the extent necessary for the efficient performance of the activities of the Agency ; provided , however , that in the case of an employee who acts on behalf of the General Manager for more than thirty days . , prior approval of the Minister shall be required . 8 . Budget 1 ) The budget of the Agency shall be drawn from the following sources : ( a ) government subsidy ; ( b ) licence fees ; ( c ) any other source . shall be deposited in a bank account opened in the name of the Agency and be expended for the carrying out of the activities of the Agency . MIT 9 . Books of accounts 1 ) The Agency shall keep complete and accurate books of accounts . 2 ) The books of accounts and other financial documents of the Agency shall be audited annually by the Auditor General or by an auditor designated by him . PART THREE Requirement and Conditions of Licence ው | 10 . Operator ' s Licence 1 ) No person may operate a telecommunication service without obtaining licence from the Agency . 2 ) No licence shall be required for the use of telecom munication systems or telecommunication equip ment by the police , the armed forces and any other services directly employed by the State for national security . 1 ) A licence to operate a telecommunication service may be subject to such conditions as the Agency considers necessary for promoting the objectives stated in Article 5 of this Proclamation . 2 ) Without limiting the generality of sub - Article ( 1 ) of this Article , a licence may include the following conditions : ( a ) the provision of services to rural or other specified areas ; ( b ) requiring an operator to publish in such manner as may be specified in the licence a notice stating the charges and other terms and con ditions that are to be applicable to services provided ; ( c ) provision of service on priority basis to the Government or specified organizations ; criteria for setting tariffs regarding the service ; ( e ) requiring an operator to comply with such technical standards or requirements including service performance standards as may be specified in the licence . | 3 ) The Agency may modify any condition of a licence if it considers it in the public interest to do so . www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com 12 . Tariffs The tariffs applicable to basic telecommunication services shall be studied by the Agency and submitted to the Government for approval . | 13 . Technical Standards 1 ) The Agency may determine technical standards regarding telecommunications including customer premises equipment . 2 ) Any directive issued for the detrmination of stan dard shall be published in such manner as the Agency may direct . 1 ) The Agency may , by public notice , specify any telecommunication equipment that requires the Agency ' s approval before it may be comected to a telecommunication system ; 2 ) Without prejudice to sub - Article ( 1 ) of this Article , the following equipment equire the approval of the Agency : . ( a ) radio communication equipment ; ( b ) TVRO 3 ) The agency shall consider the following criteria in approving types of telecommunication equipment : ( a ) safety to life and health ; ( b ) maintenance of the telecommunication network including conditions regarding data protection ; ( c ) electromagnetic compatibility ; . . . ( d ) appropriate use of electromagnetic frequency spectrum ; ( e ) interpretability between the telecom munication equipment and the telecom munications networks ; ( f ) ' other considerations which the Agency may determine by directives . ! ! 4 ) It is prohibited to manufacture , import or distribute , without obtaining prior approval , telecom munications equipment that require the approval of the Agency . 1 ) The Agency shall be responsible for the management and authorization of the use of frequencies allocated to Ethiopia in accordance with international conventions . 2 ) No person shall , except in accordance with a permit obtained from the Agency , possess , install or operate radiocommunication apparatus . 3 ) The provisions of sub - Article ( 2 ) of this Article shall not be applicable to radio apparatus for use by the police , the armed forces and any other services directly employed by the State . 1 ) The Agency may assign frequencies to be used for telecommunications , radiocomniunication services and radio and television broadcasting ; 2 ) The Agency shall coordinate the use of frequencies both locally and internationally ; and monitor the proper use of same ; www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com frequencies , regard shall be made to the present use an future needs of the Country . 4 ) Frequencies may be assigned to different persons on time - sharing basis . | 17 . Power to Inspect 1 ) The Agency may assign inspectors to ascertain that the requirements of this Proclamation and its de cisions made hereunder are complied with . An inspector assigned pursuant to sub - Article ( 1 ) of this Article , may enter and inspect , during working hours , the premises of a telecommunication operator or any place on which he believes on reasonable ground there is any radio apparatus . 3 ) An inspector shall have the power to inspect any telecommunication equipment and to examine and make copies of any relevant documents . 4 ) An inspector shall show his identification card before entering any place for inspection . PART FOUR Use of Land and Buildings for Telecommunication Lines 18 . The Use of Land and Buildings 1 ) Any telecommunication operator may enter any and an perform all acts necessary for the purpose of installing , repairing , improving , examining and altering or removing a telecommunication line . 2 ) Where a telecommunication line is essentially to pass upon any building the telecommunication operator may install such line in such manner that the installation shall in no way damage the building . 3 ) Any telecommunication operator may cut down any tree or branch which may in any way cause damage to or is likely to impede a telecommunication line . 4 ) Before entering any place for purposes specified in sub - Article ( 1 ) or ( 2 ) of this Article , an operator shall give a ten - day written notice to the possessor of the land or owner of the building stating the nature of the acts intended to be done . 5 ) If the possessor of the land or the owner of the building has any objection against the performance of the intended act , he may lodge his objection with the Agency within the notice period specified under sub - Article ( 4 ) of this Article . The Agency may upon giving each party an opportunity to be heard , uphold the objection or authorize , either unconditionally or subjected to such conditions at it thinks fit , the performance of the intended acts . www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com 1 ) The possessor of land or the owner of a building used by an operator or the installation of a telecom munication line pursuant to Article 18 of this Proclamation may , if he has good cause , apply to the Agency requesting the removal or alteration of the telecommunication line . Upon ascertaining the existence of good cause in submitting an application under sub Article ( 1 ) of this Article and the existence of alternatives for the installation of the telecommunication line , the Agency may order the removal of the line or the alteration of its position . 1 ) A telecommunication operator shall be liable for the payment of fair compensation to the possessor of land or the owner of a building to whom it has inflicted damages in the course of exercising its power to , use land or building it . . . . . 2 ) A person who has caused the removal or alteration of a telecommunication line pursuant to Article 19 of this Proclamation shall be liable for the payment of fair compensation to the telecommunication operator . 21 . Compulsory Acquisition of Land An operator may compulsorily acquire any privately possessed lands for public use in accordance with the PART FIVE Miscellaneous Provisions 1 ) Any town Plan shall clearly indicate lines of telecommunication networks . . . : : : : 2 ) Any telecommunication operator , shall follow the town plan in installing a telecommunication line . 23 . Other Construction 1 ) Any construction or excavation work or permanent fixtures of any nature in the vicinity of a telecom munication line shall require the prior consent of the telecommunication operator . The telecommunication operator shall have the duty to respond , within thirty days , to a request submitted to it pursuant to sub - Article ( 1 ) of this Article . Where the telecommunication operator unduly withholds its consent , the Agency may authorize the carrying out of the activities referred to in sub Article ( 1 ) of this Article where it ascertains that they will not cause damage or any impediment to the telecommunication line . 4 ) Any construction work or fixtures of permanent nature shall be at least two meters away from the installation of telecommunication line ; www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com When any construction work is hindering an exis ting telecommunication line , the operator may , by giving thirty days notice , request the owner or the possessor to remove it . 6 ) If the owner or possessor fails to remove the construction work , the operator shall have the right to remove it ! 1 ) No person is allowed to connect or disconnect telecommunication lines other than authorized em ployees of an operator or a person licensed by the Agency . 2 ) The use of call - back service is prohibited . | 25 . Penalties 1 ) Any person who has contravened the provisions of Article 15 ( 2 ) or 24 ( 2 ) of this Proclamation shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment from two to five years and with fine not exceeding Birr 10 , 000 . Without prejudice to the provisions of sub - Article ( 1 ) of this Article , any radio communication ap paratus , a TVRO or any other telecommunication equipment that require the authorization of the Agency shall be forfeited to the Agency if found in the possession of a person who has not obtained the necessary approval from the Agency . 3 ) Any person who contravenes other provisions of this Proclamation shall be punished in accordance with the Penal Code . | 26 . Repeal The following are hereby repealed : 1 ) the Declaration of telephones Proclamation No . 55 / 2 ) the Maintenance of Telephone Services Proclamation No . 114 / 1950 ; 3 ) the Imperial Board of Telecommunications _ es tablishment Proclamation No . 131 / 1952 . 27 . Effective Date This Proclamation shall enter into force as of the 28th day of November , 1996 . Done at Addis Ababa , this 28th day of November , PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA www . 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