‘Ley Telecom’: Enrique Peña Nieto Implements Telecommunication Reforms In Mexico

Enrique Peña Nieto today signed into law the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Act and the Public Broadcasting System of the Mexican State Act. The same document, which als amends other laws, is best known as a secondary to constitutional reform in telecommunications legislation. The signing took place at the National Palace. The PRD Parliamentary coordinators and Senator Alejandra Barrales, who serves as chairman of the Radio, Television and Film Committee, were noticeably absent.

Speeches were given by Gerardo Ruiz Esparza and Enrique Peña Nieto. Some elements of the bill are new, such as the elimination of charging long distance rates; and some are the product of last year's constitutional reform, like the creation of new TV channels. Of the most controversial and possibly unconstitutional issues, there was not a single word. Nothing was said about the violation of the privacy of users of mobile telecommunication services.

The secondary legislation will now make its way to the Supreme Court. That is the intention of the PAN congressmen, who hope that some members of the left will join the 167 legislators to achieve the numbers required by Article 105 of the Constitution to veto the bill. However, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and the Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (IFAI) also have the power to draw attention to the unconstitutionality of the bill.