New Israeli Draft Bill Would Simplify Licensing Requirements For Telecom Services

• Published date: 02 September 2020
• Subject Matter: Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment, Mobile & Cable Communications
• Law Firm: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz
• Author: Mr Haim Ravia, Dotan Hammer and Adi Shoval

The Israeli Ministry of Communications published for public comments a draft bill proposing to amend the Communications Law (Telecom and Broadcasting), which would revolutionize the telecommunication licensing scheme.

The draft bill proposes to change the existing regime in a way that would reduce the bureaucratic burden, lower barriers to market-entry, and conform to the globally acceptable norm in the field of telecommunications.

The draft bill proposed to eliminate the obligation to obtain a specific license in advance as a condition for performing telecommunication activities and to repeal the existing distinction in the current law between the types of licenses (general, unique and special licenses). Instead, the draft bill proposes that regulatory oversight of telecommunication services in Israel would be achieved through a general authorization scheme, based on a public document that prescribes the conditions that apply to all telecommunication services providers. The general authorization would allow any person desiring to provide telecom service to understand from the outset which conditions and requirements apply to their desired activities, and to begin operating without having to obtain a license.

The draft bill also suggests to down-scope the definition of "Telecom Service"...