Inter-American Court will decide if the communication is a public service in Ecuador

Ecuadornews:

Danilo Sylva, representative of the Executive before the Council of Regulation and Development of Information and Communication (Cordicom), details that the proposed amendment to the Organic Law of Communication seeks to end with a stage in which the law was used to the control and the sanction.

He affirms that now it will be in charge of the protection of citizen rights and of the freedom of expression.

Why do you consider it necessary to reform the Organic Law of Communication?

The law of communication has been questioned, both nationally and by international experts, mainly because it is considered that somewhere in its articles hindered and disrupted the proper exercise of the right to freedom of expression.

The reforms include the relocation of the Supercom staff to the Ombudsman’s Office and the Cordicom, with a prior evaluation. Is there enough space for that staff? What will the change be like?

Not all personnel will go to the Cordicom or the Ombudsman’s Office; that will be done by the labor authorities; the corresponding evaluation will be in accordance with the needs of each institution so that they can be incorporated. The exact number will be seen later, if the reform is approved and within the established term.

With the elimination of the Supercom, would there be a need for changes in the Comprehensive Criminal Code to deal with communication issues?

This reform does not include anything on criminal matters.

Who will be in charge of the dissolution process of the Supercom?

In the transitory one a period of up to 180 days is considered, it can be before. At this moment there is Paulina Quilumba, who is the superintendent, and before the General Intendent. If they designate another will be a matter of the Executive and the Council of Transient Citizen Participation and evidently whoever exercises the functions at the moment of issuing the law in this transitory process will be the person who will make the process of liquidation and closing.

Will you go to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to discuss the issue of communication in the country?

We will request an advisory opinion from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. At the moment it resolves whether the communication is seen as a public service or human right, it will settle and cease this inconclusive debate that Ecuador has had. Hence, that is mandatory. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/politica/3/comunicacion-corteidh-servicio-publico-ecuador