REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI
(No. 12 of 1996)

I assent,

(Sgd: T. Tito)
Beretitenti
09/07/96

AN ACT TO AMEND THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1983 (NO. 17 OF 1983)

Commencement
1996

MADE by the Maneaba ni Maungatabu and assented to by the Beretitenti.

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Telecommunications (Amendment) Act 1996.

Amendment of section 2

2. Section 2 of the Telecommunications Act 1983 is hereby amended by repealing the definition of "telecommunication authority" and substituting the following definition -

'"telecommunication authority" means the Secretary, and subject to the approval of the Minister, includes –

any other officer or person empowered by him to perform all or any of the functions of the telecommunications authority under this Act.'

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS (AMENDMENT) ACT 1996

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.	The purpose of this Act is to authorise the Minister through the Secretary to empower any other officer and public body and any body of persons, corporate or un-incorporate, to perform all or any of the functions of the telecommunications authority, so as to ensure the effective implementation of the Act.

2.	In order to achieve the above purpose the amendment now provides that the Secretary may only appoint officers or persons to perform all or any of the functions of the telecommunications authority subject to the approval of the Minister.

3.	Furthermore, the inclusion of the word "person" in the amendment means that the Secretary, subject to the approval of the Minister, may be able to empower any public body and any body of persons to perform all or any of the functions of the telecommunications authority. For example, a private incorporated body such as Telecom Kiribati Limited would therefore come within this definition.

Michael N. Takabwebwe
The Attorney General
31 October 1995