Category: blog

Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago releases Draft E-Money Policy for comments until December 12 2018

The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago has released a Draft E-Money Policy “To Inform a Ministerial Order for the Category of Persons
other than Licensed Financial Institutions
who can Issue E-money” for comments before December 12 2018.

View / Download Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago Draft E-Money Policy (PDF ; 962K)  | Local TTCS copy

From the E-Money Policy introduction:

The Financial Institutions Act 2008 (‘FIA’), defines electronic money (e-money) as “a monetary value represented by a claim on the issuer which is –
a) stored on an electronic device;
b) issued on receipt of funds of an amount not less in value than the monetary value issued; and
c) accepted as a means of payment by persons other than the issuer,
so however that the funds referred to in (b) above shall not be treated as a deposit.”

Currently, only financial institutions as defined in the FIA and licensed to conduct ‘business of banking’ or ‘business of a financial nature’ (‘licensees’) can issue e-money. E-money instruments include prepaid cards or stored value accounts, digital wallets etc.

However, given the emergence of Fintechs3 in the financial landscape, non- licensees have expressed interest in being permitted to issue e-money.

The Central Bank is of the view that e-money issuers other than licensees can help promote financial inclusion and development of the domestic payments system which is still heavily cash based.

Consequently, it has developed this E-money Policy that discusses the proposed regulatory framework for e-money issuers other than licensees for consultation with its regulated entities and other interested stakeholders.

The E-money Policy is divided into four parts:
• Part I is the Introduction;
• Part II discusses E-Money Developments in Trinidad and Tobago;
• Part III together with Appendices 1 and 2 examine international and regional precedent,
including risks associated with e-money issuance; and
• Part IV presents the policy recommendations for Trinidad and Tobago which are detailed in Appendix 3 – the draft E-Money Issuer Order to be made by the Minister of Finance.

The Central Bank advises that the consultation on the draft E-money Policy will  be closed on December 12, 2018. Comments on the E-money Policy should be forward by e-mail to [email protected]

 

 

 

 

TTCS OSSWIN 2.4 a collection of Free and Open Source Software (#FOSS) for Windows available for download

the all new TTCS OSSWIN 2.0 featuring a new web UI

The TTCS OSSWIN v2.40, a collection of the latest version of Free and Open Source Software for Microsoft Windows 10/8/7 is available for download. The latest release features several software updates.

Visit the TTCS OSSWIN page at https://www.ttcs.tt/osswin for more details and to download the 4GB collection as an ISO file for extracting to your harddrive or USB storage device or for burning on to a DVD.

Note that you can also browse TTCS OSSWIN online at http://ttcsosswin.ttcs.tt/ which features the web interface to learn about Free and Open Source programs in various categories, including screenshots or videos of the programs and a link to the program’s website where you can download the program. The web based UI is responsive, meaning it should be usable on non-Windows small screen mobile phones and tablets.

Trinidad and Tobago Remote Hub for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2018 from Monday November 12th to Wednesday November 14th, 2018 from 7:30am to 1pm

IGF2018 logo (via IGF website)

The thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be hosted by the Government of France at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris from 12 to 14 November 2018. The IGF is an opportunity for multi-stakeholder dialogue on public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance, such as the Internet’s sustainability, robustness, security, stability, access and development.

The Trinidad and Tobago Multistakeholder Advisory Group (of which the TTCS is a member) invites you to join us in participating in the IGF at our IGF Remote Hub, which will be based at the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, #5, Eighth Avenue Extension, off Twelfth Street, Barataria, on Monday 12th – Wednesday 14th November 2018, from 7:30am – 1:00pm.

At the remote hub we will:

  • View the live IGF sessions
  • Submit comments and questions during the IGF sessions
  • Hold discussions on internet governance issues.

Please see the IGF 2018 schedule to identify sessions of interest. Note that the times on the IGF 2018 schedule are local to France which is 5 hours ahead of Trinidad and Tobago.

Attendance to the Trinidad and Tobago’s IGF 2018 Remote Hub is free, however please RSVP using this Google Form in order to confirm seating. Light refreshments will be available for participants.

TTCS final comments on TATT’s Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago

The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society has submitted its comments on the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT)’s Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago (PDF ; local TTCS copy ;  1034K)

Read / View TTCS comments on Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago (PDF ; 285K)

 

TTCS F2F meeting on Saturday October 13 2018 from 1pm – finishing response to TATT’s discussion paper on proposed regulations for Internet users in Trinidad and Tobago

excerpt from TATT’s discussion paper on net neutrality

The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) will be having a F2F meeting on Saturday October 13 2018 from 1pm at Engineering Consultants, 112A Edward Street (corner of Oxford and Edward Streets), Port of Spain.

At this meeting, we will be working to finish the TTCS’ response (Google doc ; no account required to comment) to the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago’s proposed Internet regulations for Trinidad and Tobago.

Please RSVP to [email protected] if you are attending this meeting.

 

 

TTCS conference call on Friday October 12 2018 at 8pm on TATT’s proposed Internet regulations for Trinidad and Tobago

Excerpt from TATT’s discussion paper on net neutrality and OTT services in Trinidad and Tobago

The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) will will be having a conference call on Friday October 12 2018 at 8pm to develop the TTCS comments (Google doc ; no account needed to comment) to the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago’s proposed Internet regulations for Trinidad and Tobago

Conference call details on how to join can be found on our conference call page

Call for Topics for the Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum 2019!

Save the date! The third annual Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF ; http://igf.tt/) will be held on Friday 25th January 2019 from 9am to 5pm at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Columbus Circle, Westmoorings, Trinidad with online participation available for those unable to attend at the venue.

TTIGF 2019 is hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Multistakeholder Advisory Group (TTMAG), of which the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society is a member.

The Trinidad and Tobago Multistakeholder Advisory Group has begun enthusiastically preparing for the TTIGF 2019, carded for January 25th, 2019.

We invite your contributions to craft the TTIGF 2019 agenda topics. Share your thoughts by filling out the form at https://goo.gl/forms/Se2S2SemnKXpGuEU2

Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago proposed guiding principles and policy recommendations on net neutrality and OTT services in Trinidad and Tobago. – please read and comment before October 12 2018

The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT)’s Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago (PDF ; 63 pages ; 1034K) is out for public comments until October 12 2018.

About Net Neutrality

What is Net Neutrality? From Wikipedia: Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers treat all data on the Internet equally, and not discriminate or charge differently by user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication.

About Over the Top Services (OTT)

OTT refers to “services that a customer may use which rides on top of a network to which the customer is connected” (CANTO, 2014) – which covers anything that is sent and received over the Internet from webpages to email to Voice over IP (VoIP) and video chat services (like Skype, Whatsapp, Google Duo), Messaging services (like Whatsapp, Apple iMessage, Google Allo) to video and audio streaming (like YouTube, Netflix, Facebook Video).

About TATT’s discussion paper on net neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago

In TATT’s discussion paper, TATT proposes several guiding principles and policy recommendations for Net Neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago. These proposed principles and recomendations WILL impact current and future Internet users and businesses in Trinidad and Tobago in how we use the Internet. Please therefore read the discussion paper and contribute to the TTCS response to the discussion paper (Google doc, no login needed) before October 12 2018 by following the links below, and read about TATT’s proposed principles and recommendations for Net Neutrality and OTT Services.

Key Documents

TATT proposed Guiding Principles for Net Neturality

Principle 1: Reasonable Traffic Management

  1. The Authority recognises that well-functioning broadband networks require operators to manage their networks reasonably.
  2. Traffic management techniques that are reasonable and serve to address specific needs should be allowed.

Principle 2: No Unreasonable Discrimination

  1. The Authority proposes net neutrality rules that specifically prohibit network operators from intentionally downgrading and/or blocking lawful content, applications and/or services.
  2. Discriminatory practices may be allowed for societal issues such as: bridging the digital divide, public safety, emergency situations, law enforcement and national security issues, and child pornography.

Principle 3: Encouraging Investment

  1. Net neutrality policy decisions should ensure that market opportunities and investment prospects are not unduly disrupted.
  2. Net neutrality policy decisions should encourage a climate of regulatory certainty that incentivises investment, e.g., through sector stability and the expectation of reasonable rates of return on investment opportunities.

Principle 4: Transparency

  1. Network operators should disclose their network practices inclusive of traffic management practices and application-specific behaviour.
  2. The disclosure of traffic management information that is commercially sensitive in nature, or which may compromise the security of a network, should be exempted from the principle of transparency.

Principle 5: Promoting Local Innovation and Entrepreneurship

  1. Any policy framework on net neutrality should be guided by the stimulation of local innovation and entrepreneurship.

TATT’s proposed policy recommendations for net neutrality

On Blocking and Throttling

  1. An ISP should not prevent (through blocking) end users from freely accessing and/or providing lawful information, content, services and applications.
  2. Subject to the principle of reasonable traffic management, an ISP should not intentionally restrict, alter, degrade or impair specific content, services or applications.

On Paid Prioritisation and Zero-Rated Pricing

  1. The Authority proposes penalising harmful and proven offences as opposed to the absolute banning of paid prioritisation and zero-rating practices.
  2. Each case should be evaluated on its individual merit and regulatory action would only be warranted where there is violation of one or more of the guiding principles.

View / Download
Discussion Paper on Net Neutrality and OTT Services in Trinidad and Tobago
(PDF ; 1034K)

TATT’s proposed regulation of OTT Services

Classification 1: Functionally Equivalent OTT Services

  1. OTTs which are functionally equivalent to traditional services and use numbering resources to connect to the PSTN [Public Switch Telephone Network] should be regulated in the same manner as traditional telecommunications services.
  2. Amendments to the Authority’s Authorisation Framework will be required to reflect classification 1 OTT services.

Classification 2: Other OTT Services

  1. The Authority may consider taking a light-handed regulatory approach to OTT services not requiring numbering or spectrum resources.
  2. Amendments to the Authority’s Authorisation Framework will be required to reflect classification 2 OTT services.
  3. General regulatory controls should be applied to these services. These include, inter alia, cybersecurity, data protection, child pornography, intellectual property rights, national security and privacy controls.

 

 

Various events during Internet Week Trinidad and Tobago from October 2-5, 2018 ; pre-registration required

The Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC), Google, the Internet Society (ISOC), and the Caribbean Network Operators’ Group (CaribNOG), under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Administration, are hosting Internet Week Trinidad and Tobago, which will be held from 2-5 October 2018 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Internet Week Trinidad and Tobago will bring together Trinidad and Tobago  Internet stakeholders, regional Internet organisations, and the global technical community to address the strengthening, security and resilience of local Internet infrastructure, and the enhancement of the quality and delivery of Internet services. Internet Week Trinidad and Tobago consists of five premier events, namely:

  • CaribNOG 16th Regional Meeting on Securing Caribbean Networks
  • LACNIC/Google Workshop on Entrepreneurship and Digital Marketing
  • Internet Society Meeting on Community Networks and Natural Disaster Management
  • LACNIC/Google Workshop on Interconnection and IP Traffic in Trinidad and Tobago (by special invitation only)
  • LACNIC’s AMPARO Workshop on How to set up a Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) and Incident Management (by special invitation only)

All Internet Week Trinidad and Tobago activities are free-of-charge and open to the public, but registration is mandatory. Please indicate clearly the activities that you are interested in attending during the registration process. No walk-ins will be allowed on the day of the event. The activities will be held at Level 4, Government Campus Plaza Auditorium on Richmond Street, Port of Spain, except for the Interconnection and AMPARO workshops, which are by invitation only.

For more information, visit the event website.