The Bermuda Regulatory Authority has given notice of enforcement proceedings meant to determine whether two-related organisations that it governs contravened statutory provisions requiring the payment of fees to the RA.

The RA issued public notices of hearing on Monday in respect of TeleBermuda International Ltd and Telecommunications Networks Ltd.

TBI is owned by East End Telecom and Celeritas Ltd, while TNL trades as East End Telecom.

The notices of enforcement proceedings come after the RA issued binding written directions to TBI and TNL on November 18 with regard to what it said were outstanding quarterly fees.

In a letter to TBI posted on the RA website, the regulatory body directed TBI that it must pay 50 per cent of all outstanding amounts owing to the RA, including all arrears on the RA fees and government authorisation fees, within seven days of the date of the November 18 letter, and that it must pay the remaining 50 per cent by December 31. It also directed TBI that it must remain current with respect to any other amounts as they fall due.

In a letter to TNL, also posted on the RA website, the regulatory body directed TNL that it must pay all outstanding amounts owing to the RA, including all arrears on the RA fees and government authorisation fees, by December 31. It also directed TNL that it must remain current with respect to any other amounts as they fall due.

The letters were signed by Denton Williams, chief executive of the RA.

In the letters, Mr Williams also advised the recipients that under the Regulatory Authority Act, failure to comply with a direction is an offence for which the recipient may be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $5,000 for each day during which the refusal or failure continues.

The two public notices, which are posted on the RA’s website, say the RA “seeks to determine, by conducting an informal adjudication” whether the named companies “contravened certain statutory provisions requiring the payment of fees to the Authority”.

The RA said in the notices of public hearing that the enforcement and adjudication hearings are to “commence forthwith”, and says anyone with a “legal or other substantial interest in the matter may seek to intervene in the proceedings”.

Full details of how to do so, including deadlines, are included in the notices.

A message left for Nick Faries, chief executive officer of East End Group, was not returned by press time.