In order to allow the Mobile Taiwan National Project to utilize its experimental equipment and base stations, the National Communications Commission has approved amendments to the regulations governing wireless broadband access service. These pave the way for the use of experimental base stations for commercial purposes.

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The National Communications Commission recently reviewed the Organization Act and proposed several changes in order to bring it into line with the demands of independent regulation. These changes include a relaxation of the qualification thresholds for entry into the commission and amendments to the scope of each commissioner's role.

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The Appeal Committee of the National Communications Commission (NCC) recently revoked a ban on Chunghwa Telecom acquiring shares in a new worldwide interoperability for microwave access operator imposed by the previous NCC commissioners. This is the first case in which a resolution made by previous commissioners has been dismissed.

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Taiwan's three dominant mobile operators have confirmed plans to incorporate Long-Term Evolution into their second-generation and third-generation systems. However, the government and network-equipment manufacturers still seem positive about the prospects for the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access industry. There is thus uncertainty as to which technology will ultimately prevail.

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The National Communications Commission has rejected an application by First International Telecom, one of the six WiMAX licence holders and the only personal handy-phone system operator in Taiwan, to spin off its WiMAX business from its personal handy-phone system operation to its wholly owned subsidiary.

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The Legislative Yuan recently approved the nominations for the next term commissioners of the National Communications Commission (NCC). Although some critical issues regarding the NCC Organization Act were resolved in 2007, several problematic issues concerning the organization and functions of the NCC remain to be dealt with. Therefore, the NCC has published proposed amendments to the act.

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To facilitate the network deployment of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), the National Communications Commission is currently amending the Regulations on Wireless Broadband Access Services in order to allow WiMAX licensees to obtain the experimental base stations that are part of the Mobile Taiwan National Project.

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Following the completion of its 2007 Broadband Access to Every Village project, the National Communications Commission (NCC) is aiming to extend the construction of the broadband network infrastructure to further remote areas in 2008. The NCC has appointed three companies to offer universal data services for broadband access to 50 mountain villages in 12 different counties.

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Although the Internet Telephony Service (ITS) was opened up to operators in 2005, to date no licensed ITS providers have launched their services due to ongoing negotiations of network interconnection agreements with Chunghwa Telecom. In order to introduce competition into the market, the National Communications Commission has ruled that Chunghwa will have no pricing rights on the ITS until the end of 2010.

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Taiwan's mobile operators are required to reduce certain primary tariff plans by at least 4.88% each year under a three-year mandatory price-cutting plan. The National Communications Commission recently approved the cuts for mobile services and asymmetric digital subscriber line services for 2008. Ostensibly designed to benefit consumers directly, the policy's real intention seems to be to stimulate competition.

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In order to comply with the adjustment of the value of the Production Efficiency Index in the price cap formula, the National Communications Commission is to implement a new accounting rule providing for detailed separate accounting for the telecommunications industry. The rule will be applied retroactively to cover financial statements and other reporting materials from 2006 onwards.

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After mutual concessions by the ruling and opposition parties, the Taiwanese Congress (the Legislative Yuan) passed the Amendment to Article 4 of the National Communications Commission (NCC) Organization Act on December 20 2007. The amendment, which became effective from January 9 2008, dramatically changes the formation of the NCC and the manner in which commissioners are nominated.

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The National Communications Commission (NCC) has announced its completion of the Broadband Access to Every Village project, which was designed to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas, following the NCC's amendment of the Regulations Governing the Telecommunications Universal Service in December 2006 to incorporate broadband internet access within the scope of the universal service.

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The National Communications Commission (NCC) has decided to shift the right to determine the price of local-to-mobile calls from the termination side (ie, mobile operators) to the originating side (ie, fixed network operators) from January 1 2011. However, the NCC has also ordered the local phone division of Chunghwa Telecom to reimburse mobile operators for the revenue loss caused by the shift.

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The National Communications Commission (NCC) has ruled on an amendment to the Regulations Governing Fixed-Network Telecommunications Business. By amending the regulations the NCC will reduce the thresholds - including the minimum paid-in capital, performance bond, minimum construction capacity and minimum requirement to launch business - not only for new entrants, but also for incumbents.

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