expected to come before Parliament within the next month.

The 1993 Telecommunications Amendment Act, which was tabled in the House of Assembly last Friday, will require that all telecommunications services providers are licensed.

And Technology Minister the Hon. Michael Winfield said the bill will update the 1986 Telecommunications Act for the first time as promised by Government.

In last year's Throne Speech, Government said it saw international telecommunications as an area of opportunity.

It said it was working with major telecommunications services providers to develop an "effective plan designed to maximise this opportunity''.

"We believe that telecommunications is one of the most rapidly developing areas of technology,'' Sen. Winfield said this week. "And we're keeping up with it.'' The main thrust of the bill was to ensure that all people who are able to provide telecommunications services are licensed in order to protect the public, Sen. Winfield explained.

Telecommunications services currently operating without a licence may continue to do so for three months after the bill becomes law.

The bill also puts all providers of telecommunications services, including Cable and Wireless and Government, on "an even playing field'', he said.

And in addition several technical changes, the bill will: Require everybody in the telecommunications business to be incorporated -- as is currently the case with a broadcasting station; Require the holders of telecommunications licences to provide an annual report to the Telecommunications Minister and to list all of the services they provide -- there is $2,000 or six-month prison term penalty; Require that carriers who introduce a new service or rates and charges pay to have them published, rather than Government as is the case; Require that carriers publish such notices on two separate days in at least one local paper approved by the Commission and the notices should specify that the public has the right to object to the Commission within 21 days from the second day of publication; Take away any special treatment for rates and charges by Cable and Wireless; Require Government departments or boards using telecommunications have a permit, with the exception of Police and the Regiment for security reasons; Allow the Telecommunications Commission to hold some meetings in private "as long as they are not against public interest'' ; and Extend the period that the Minister has to handle an appeal from 30 to 60 days.

Sen. Winfield explained that the current law requiring the Commission to hold all public hearings was time consuming.

The proposed amendment will reduce red tape while protecting the public's interest, he said.

The proposed law also makes provision for cable and other underground telecommunication services that did not exist when the Act was originally produced.

For example, any person who without authorisation interferes with any telecommunication installation including "apparatus which is designed or adapted for use in connection with the running of a cable television service'' will be fined $3,000 and $500 for every day that the offence continues.

Or that person could be sent to prison for two years -- or face both a fine and prison.

Companies can face a fine of $5,000 and a further fine of $1,000 for every day the offence continues.