Dominican Republic proposes new telecommunications law and sanctions

A draft of the new General Law of Telecommunications, Digital Infrastructure, and Connectivity in the Dominican Republic proposes strict measures to regulate the sector and penalize informal operations. Under Article 182, individuals or companies operating telecommunications services without a valid license would be barred from applying for any legal permits for a period of four years.

In addition to the four-year disqualification, violators would be required to pay all fees, taxes, or royalties corresponding to the entire duration of their irregular operation. The draft specifies that these sanctions are administrative and punitive in nature; paying a fine does not validate the irregular status, and the operator must still regularize their legal standing.

Article 181 stipulates that the use of unauthorized, non-homologated, or altered equipment will result in immediate seizure and confiscation. Furthermore, the draft includes a financial deterrent principle ensuring that the total amount of sanctions applied is never less beneficial to the offender than the actual cost of having complied with the regulations.

Regarding legal challenges, Article 191 notes that appeals filed before the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) will not have a suspensive effect on the resolutions being contested.