CROATIAN PARLIAMENT

1373

Pursuant to Article 88 of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, I hereby pass the

RESOLUTION

PROMULGATING THE ACT ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT

I hereby promulgate the Act on the Amendments to the Telecommunications Act which was passed by the Croatian Parliament at its session of May 20th, 2005

No: 01-081-05-1991/2

Zagreb, May 27th, 2005

President

of the Republic of Croatia

Stjepan Mesić, m.p.

ACT

ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT

 

Article 1

Paragraph 1 of Article 3 of the Telecommunications Act (Official Gazette, 122/03, 158/03 and 60/04) is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(1) Upon proposal by the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Parliament shall pass the Strategy for the Development of Telecommunications, which shall represent a basic document establishing, on a long term basis, the fundamental principles and guidelines for the development of telecommunications and radio communications, and shall set the national priorities in planning the development of telecommunications services and activities.«

Paragraph 2 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) The ministry competent for telecommunications (hereinafter: the Ministry) shall prepare the strategy referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article.«

Paragraph 3 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(3) In situations referred to in Article 18 Paragraph 5 of the Act, the Government of the Republic of Croatia may authorise the Ministry to take the appropriate measures in order to ensure uninterrupted provision of universal telecommunications services,  in compliance with this Act and special regulations.«

 

Article 2

The words »specifically in procedures of resolving disputes between the users and service providers in Article 5 Paragraph 1 Item 2 are hereby deleted.

Paragraph 2 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) In achieving the principles and objectives referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the Croatian Agency  for Telecommunications shall in particular perform the following:

1. ensure enforcement of the Strategy for the Development of Telecommunications referred to in Article 3 hereof, 

2. cooperate with the Croatian Competition Agency, by requesting the opinion of that body or instituting proceedings before that body in all instances of prevention, restriction or disturbance of market competition, in compliance with the special act regulating the protection of market competition,

3. cooperate with the body responsible for consumer protection, in compliance with the special act regulating consumer protection.«

Paragraph 3 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(3) The Croatian Competition Agency shall apply the provisions contained in the regulations governing the protection of market competition to all issues related to the provision of telecommunications services and activities of legal and physical persons on the market, which are not regulated by this Act,.«

Paragraph 4 is hereby added after Paragraph 3, and it reads:

»(4) The Croatian Agency for Telecommunications shall provide appropriate expert and technical assistance to the Croatian Competition Agency in the application of regulations regulating the protection of market competition.«

 

Article 3

The word: »capability« in Article 7 Item 6 is hereby substituted by the word: »ability«.

Item 11 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»11. unbundled access to the local loop: full unbundled access to the local loop, authorising the use to a third interested party of the whole frequency spectrum of the local loop; and shared access to the unbundled local loop, authorising the use to a third interested party of the non-voice band frequency spectrum of the unbundled local loop, not entailing a change in ownership of the local loop.

The words: »mutual voice communication« in Item 12 are hereby substituted by the words: »reciprocal voice communication«.

Item 22 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»22. interconnection: a special type of network access realized between the operators, establishing a physical and logical connection of public telecommunications networks of one or more different operators, in order to enable the users of services of one operator to mutually communicate or communicate with users of services of another operator, or to access the services of another operator, where the services may be provided by interconnected operators or other service providers with network access,«.

The word: »using« in Item 38 is hereby substituted by the word: »applying«.

Item 55 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»55. disposal of the telecommunications network: ownership of the telecommunications network, alternatively, the right to use a telecommunications network owned by some other legal or physical person,«.

Item 60 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»60. telecommunications infrastructure: basic constituents of a telecommunications network, such as the land and buildings for accommodation of telecommunications equipment, cable canalization, antennae posts and other structures for the provision of telecommunications services and activities. The telecommunications infrastructure shall neither comprise business and other structures serving to carry out administrative, commercial and other operations associated with the provision of telecommunications services and activities, nor the structures accommodating telecommunications equipment that is not intended for the provision of telecommunications services, or for the performance of telecommunications activities (such as storage premises for telecommunications equipment and the like),«.

Item 61 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»61. telecommunications network: an integral technical system or a part thereof, consisting of transmission and commutation systems, as well as other telecommunications systems, telecommunications lines and other technical equipment enabling the provision of telecommunications services,«.

Item 66 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»66. telecommunications system: each integral technical system enabling the provision of telecommunications services,«.

Item 67 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»67. telecommunications line: a wire, optical or related line between the connecting points of the telecommunications network with appropriate interfaces, without the function of mediation (commutation),«.

A new Item 69 is hereby added after Item 68, and it reads:

»69. service of fixed wireless access: service through fixed access to the telecommunications network using the radiofrequency spectrum, which enables physical and logical connection of telecommunications terminal equipment and other telecommunications equipment to the telecommunications network or parts thereof,«.

Former Items 69 – 72 are hereby renumbered as Items 70 – 73.

 

Article 4

A third sentence is hereby added in Article 9 Paragraph 2, and it reads:

»The term of office of the Agency’s Council members shall cease on the day of expiry of the term for which he/she was appointed, by death or on the day of dismissal, in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 hereof.«

Paragraph 5 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(5) The members of the Agency’s Council shall perform their duty professionally, as their only profession.«

Paragraph 6 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(6) The members of the Agency’s Council may be appointed from among Croatian citizens domiciled in the Republic of Croatia, who hold a university degree in the area of electrical engineering, legal and economic sciences and who have at least five years of work experience in the area of telecommunications, as well as an active knowledge of at least one foreign business language (English, German or French). At least one member of the Council must hold a university degree in the area of legal sciences and at least one member of the Council must hold a university degree in the field of economic sciences

The word: »managing director« in Paragraphs 7 and 10, is hereby substituted by the word: »director«.

A new Item 11 is hereby added after Item 10, and it reads:

»(11) The material rights of the chairman, deputy chairman and the members of the Agency’s Council shall be regulated by the Agency’s Statute.«

 

Article 5

Paragraph 1 in Article 10 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(1) The Croatian Parliament shall dismiss from office a chairman, a deputy chairman, or a member of the Council before the expiry of their term of office, at the proposal of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, in the following cases:

1. if he/she so requests,

2. if it is found that a member, at the time of his/her candidacy for a Council member, presented untrue information about him/herself or omitted to present data on the circumstances essential for the assessment of the proposed candidacy,

3. severe infringements of duty stipulated by the Agency’s Statute,

4. inability to duly perform his/her duties for an uninterrupted period exceeding six months,

5. permanent lack of ability to perform duty,

6. valid conviction for a criminal offence,

7. occurrence of circumstances referred to in Article 9 Paragraph 7 hereof.«

The words: »Items 1, 4 and 5« in Paragraph 4 are substituted by the words: »Items 2, 3, 6 and 7«.

Article 6

The heading of Article 11 and Article 11 are hereby amended and they now read:

»The director and Administrative Service of the Agency

Article 11

(1) The Agency shall have an Administrative Service organized in accordance with the general acts of the Agency, which performs professional, administrative and technical tasks for the needs of the Agency.

(2) The Administrative Service of the Agency shall be managed by the director of the Agency, who is responsible to the Agency's Council for his/her work. The director shall organize and manage the work of the administrative service and he/she shall be responsible for the professional work of the Agency.

(3) The director shall prepare draft proposals of decisions, resolutions, conclusions and opinions referred to in Article 12 hereof, for the Agency’s Council.  The director shall also perform such other tasks stipulated by the Agency’s Statute.

(4) The Chairman of the Agency’s Council may transfer part of his/her authority, stipulated by this Act and the Agency’s Statute, to the director in accordance with the Statute of the Agency.

(5) The director shall be appointed by the Minister on the basis of a public announcement of vacancy, for a four-year term of office, with the possibility of reappointment.

(6) The director may be appointed from among Croatian citizens domiciled in the Republic of Croatia, holding a university degree in the area of electrical engineering, legal or economic sciences, with at least three years of work experience in managerial positions in the area of telecommunications and with an active knowledge of at least one foreign business language (English, German or French).

 (7) The Minister may also dismiss from office the director before the expiry of his/her term of office under the circumstances and pursuant to the procedure provided for by the Institutions Act, as well as at the proposal of the Agency's Council.

(8) The labour-related rights of the director and the employees of the Administrative Service of the Agency shall be regulated by the Ordinance on the work of the agency, in accordance with the general labour legislation. 

(9) The director shall conclude an employment contract with the Chairman of the Agency’s Council.

(10) The provisions of the Institutions Act shall apply accordingly to all other matters concerning the establishment and operation of the Agency, which are not regulated by this Act

 

Article 7

Item 4 in Paragraph 1 of Article 12 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»4. settlement of disputes between providers and users of services, with the mediation of Users of Telecommunications Services as the advisory body of the Agency, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and special regulations,«.

A new Item 9 is hereby added after Item 8, and it reads:

»9. expert supervision of the provision of telecommunications services and activities, as well as of the performance of other tasks in compliance with the provisions hereof.

Former Items 9 – 12 are hereby renumbered as Items 10 – 13.

A new Item 14 is hereby added after former Item 12, which is renumbered as Item 13, and it reads:

»14. keeping and maintenance of databases which the Agency collects for the purpose of performing tasks assigned to it, as well as regular publication of data in the field of telecommunications in accordance with the provisions hereof and regulations passed pursuant thereto,«.

Former Item 13 is hereby renumbered as Item 15.

In former Item 14, which is hereby renumbered as Item 16, the word “authorized” is added  after the words: »international cooperation with«, with simultaneous deletion of the words: »with the approval of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry,«.

Former Items 15 and 16 are hereby renumbered as Items 17 and 18.

In Paragraph 2, the words: »Items 1 – 9« are hereby substituted for the words: »Items 1 – 10«.

 

Article 8

In Paragraph 2 of Article 13, the words: »except for the public tender procedures referred to in Article 24 hereof, in which the Agency determined the tender documentation« are hereby added after the words “of this Act”.

A new Paragraph 6 is hereby added after Paragraph 5, and it reads:

»(6) The proceedings before the Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia in administrative proceedings set in motion pursuant to the provisions of Paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Article shall be urgent.«

Former Paragraph 6 is hereby renumbered as Paragraph 7.

Former Paragraph 7, which is hereby renumbered as Paragraph 8, is amended and it now reads:

»(8) In case of non-compliance with the Agency Council’s decision within the term specified in Paragraph 7 of this Article, the telecommunications inspector or telecommunications supervisor may issue a misdemeanour order and submit a request to start misdemeanour proceedings, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 113 and 113a hereof.«

Former Paragraph 8 is hereby renumbered as Paragraph 9.

 

Article 9

The heading of Article 14 and Article 14 are hereby amended and they now read:

»Publicity of Work of the Agency

Article 14

(1) The Agency’s Council shall submit to the Croatian Parliament and the Government of the Republic of Croatia an annual report on its operations, including financial statements, and about the state of affairs and the realization of principles and goals of the telecommunications market regulation in the Republic of Croatia referred to in Article 5 hereof, not later than the end of March for the previous calendar year.

(2) At the request of the Croatian Parliament or the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Agency’s Council shall also submit, within a reasonable time, the report referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, for a period shorter than one year.

(3) The Agency shall organize and regularly update databases of all the registries and records that it keeps for the purpose of performance of tasks assigned to it, and specifically the databases on: 

– granted concessions and concluded concession agreements,

– issued licences for the provision of telecommunications services,

– written requests for the provision of telecommunications services,

– issued authorities for the provision of telecommunications services,

– issued licences referred to in Article 84, Paragraph 1 hereof,

assigned and available radio frequencies and radiofrequency channels,

assigned and available addresses and numbers in public telecommunications,

relevant markets, as well as operators and service providers with significant market power on these relevant markets,

– reference offers and concluded agreements on interconnection and unbundled access to the local loop,

approval for import and placement on the market of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment.

(4) Databases referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article must be available to the public free of charge in electronic format on the Agency’s web site or in another appropriate format, offering the possibility of comprehensive data browsing according to chosen parameters.

(5) Data on the radiofrequency spectrum are kept in accordance with the provisions of Article 75, Paragraph 4 hereof.

(6) In addition to data and documents referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article, the Agency shall regularly publish free of charge, either on its web site or in another appropriate format, the following data and documents:

decisions, resolutions, conclusions and expert opinions of the Agency,

decisions and other information concerning the announcement of public tenders referred to in Article 24 hereof,

development indicators of the telecommunications market,

the annual program of work and development of the Agency,

the annual report referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article,

the annual financial plan of the Agency and realization thereof,

the Statute of the Agency and other general acts of the Agency,

other data and information on the Agency’s work and operations.

(7) For the purpose of publishing data and documents referred to in Paragraphs 3 and 6 of this Article, the Agency shall organize and regularly update its official web site, and it may also publish an official gazette of the Agency.

(8) The rulings and decisions of the Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia in administrative proceedings set in motion pursuant to the provisions of Article 13 hereof shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia, but they may also be published in the manner specified in Paragraph 7 of this Article.

(9) By way of derogation from the provisions referred to in Paragraphs 4, 6 and 7 of this Article, the data and documents that are considered an official secret in the context of Article 15 hereof shall not be published.«

 

Article 10

The heading of Article 15 and Article 15 are hereby amended and now read:

»Collection of Data and Keeping Official Secrets

Article 15

(1) In the performance of tasks specified in Article 12 hereof, the Agency shall be entitled to request, in writing, from a legal and physical persons providing telecommunications services and activities, the following:

1. delivery of all required data and information, including financial data and data that are marked as a business secret or official secret, as well as the delivery of required data and documentation for inspection,

2. direct inspection of the business premises, the resources for the provision of telecommunications services and activities, business records, archives, databases and other documentation,

3. performance of other acts which it finds necessary in order to establish all essential facts in the decision-making procedure.

(2) The request of the Agency referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article must contain the legal basis, subject and the purpose of the request, the level of detail of requested data and a reasonable term to comply with the request.

(3) Legal and physical persons who provide telecommunications services and activities shall comply with the request of the Agency referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article.

(4) The Agency shall deliver the data referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article to the Ministry upon their request, which shall be elaborated in compliance with Paragraph 2 of this Article.

(5) The chairman, deputy chairman and members of the Agency’s Council, director of the Agency and employees of the Administrative Service, as well as other legal and physical persons to whom the Agency has entrusted performance of certain tasks, shall keep the official secret confidential, regardless of how they have learned about it. This obligation of confidentiality shall remain in force even after the termination of employment with the Agency, in compliance with a special act.

(6) The official secret referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article shall particularly include:

1. all that is labelled as official secret in a special act or other regulation, 

2. all that is labelled as official secret or business secret in a general acts or other act of legal and physical persons referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article,

3. all that the legal and physical persons referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article explicitly labelled as official secret or business secret,

4. all that is labelled as official secret in the Agency’s general acts.

(7) By way of derogation from the provisions referred to in Paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Article, the data and documents that were in any way available to the public, i.e. published pursuant to special regulations or decisions of legal and physical persons referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be considered an official secret.«

 

Article 11

A new Paragraph 3 is hereby added after Paragraph 2 in Article 17, and it reads:

»(3) Telecommunications infrastructure must be planned in the spatial planning documents.«

Former Paragraph 3, which is hereby renumbered as Paragraph 4, is amended and it now reads:

»(4) The telecommunications infrastructure and telecommunications equipment shall be designed, produced, installed and constructed in such a way as to also enable access and availability of public telecommunications services to disabled persons.«

Former Paragraph 4 is hereby deleted.

The word: “building” in Paragraph 5 is hereby substituted by the word: »construction «;.

Paragraph 6 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(6) If the construction of a residential, office or another kind of structure causes interference in the reception of radio or television programs of the Croatian Radio Television or a concessionaire of radio-diffusive services on a territory covered by the concession, the investor of the structure shall, within 60 days from the day the interference was detected, ensure at its own expense, the reception of these radio and television programs, at equal quality of reception to that which had existed before the interference occurred.«

 

Article 12

The words: »service competent for surveillance and alarming« in Article 18 Paragraph 4 are hereby substituted for words: »bodies of the state administration competent for protection and rescuing services«.

The words “and emergency services” are added in Paragraph 5 after the words “competent bodies of state administration«.

 

Article 13

The words: »obtain a license issued by the Ministry with the approval of the ministry competent for administrative construction affairs, and with the previously obtained approval of the Government of the Republic of Croatia« in Article 19 Paragraph 4 are substituted by words: »obtain the approval of the Ministry«.

 

Article 14

Paragraph 2 in Article 20 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) It is required to previously obtain special location conditions issued by the Agency in the procedure of making and enactment of spatial planning documents and/or issuance of location permits for spatial interventions in the zone of telecommunications infrastructure, equipment and the connection route, as well as in the protected zone and radio corridor of radio stations.«

In Paragraph 5, the word: »building« is hereby substituted for the word: »construction«.

 

Article 15

A new Paragraph 5 is added after Paragraph 4 in Article 22, and it reads:

»(5) When the owner of telecommunications infrastructure is not established, the Council may, at the request of the concessionaire of radio-diffusive services or the operator, provided the technical conditions are met, issue a temporary decision until the final establishment of ownership right, which in entirety replaces the contract referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Article.«

 

Article 16

A new Item 6 is hereby added after Item 5 in Article 23, Paragraph 1, and it reads:

»6. services of fixed wireless access.«

Item 1 in Paragraph 2 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»1. transmission of voice, sound, data, documents, images and other, without the use of the radio-frequency spectrum, except for public voice services,«.

Paragraph 4 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(4) The provisions concerning program contents prescribed by a special act regulating the area of electronic media shall apply accordingly to the program contents produced, broadcasted and/or published by the performance of telecommunications services referred to in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article.«

 

Article 17

Paragraph 3 in Article 27 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(3) In cases referred to in Article  26 Paragraph 1 hereof, the Council may decide to terminate the provision of notified telecommunications services to persons referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article,.«

A new Paragraph 4 is added after Paragraph 3, and it reads:

»(4) The provisions of Article 26, Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 hereof shall apply accordingly to the decision ordering termination of the provision of notified telecommunications services referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article. «

 

Article 18

Paragraph 2 in Article 31 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) The concession for frequency for the provision of telecommunications services in the mobile telecommunications network may be renewed on the basis of a public tender referred to in Article 24, Paragraph 1 hereof, in which the Agency shall particularly evaluate the performance of activities of existing concessionaires of these telecommunications services.«

 

Article 19

A full stop at the end of the sentence in Article 33, Paragraph 5 is substituted for a comma and the following words are hereby added: »and the concessionaire is not entitled to damages.

 

Article 20

The heading of Article 34 and Article 34 are hereby amended and now read:

»Evaluation of Concentration

Article 34

(1) The operators and service providers shall notify the Croatian Competition Agency in writing, of each intention of merger or consolidation of operators or service providers, of gaining control or prevailing influence in a company of the operator or service provider, of joint venture in the field of telecommunications, as well as the intention of creating any type of joint or harmonised operation of operators or service providers, which is considered to be a concentration, subject to the obligation of submitting the notification under the protection of market competition regulations.

(2) With the notification of intention of concentrating referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the operators and service providers shall also provide to the Croatian Competition Agency the Agency’s opinion on possible implications of such concentration on the relevant market.

(3) The Croatian Competition Agency shall evaluate the notification of intention to make concentration as referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article and shall issue a decision in compliance with the provisions regulating the protection of market competition.«

 

Article 21

A comma after the word: “minister” in Article 36 Paragraph 1 is substituted by a full stop and the words: “where the amount of the fee must not disrupt free competition” are hereby deleted.

A new Paragraph 3 is added after Paragraph 2, and it reads:

»(3) The charges for the licence, notification and authorization referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be determined in an amount not exceeding the amount for administrative fees arising out of the performance, control and implementation of the procedure for issuing a licence or authority, i.e. the procedure of receipt of the application.«

Former Paragraph 3 is hereby renumbered as Paragraph 4.

 

Article 22

The words: »ordinance passed by the Minister« in Article 40 Paragraph 6 are hereby substituted by the words: »ordinance referred to in Article 37 Paragraph 3 hereof«.

 

Article 23

The words: »Article 40, Paragraph 6« in Article 41, Paragraph 6 are hereby substituted by the words: »Article 37, Paragraph 3«.

 

Article 24

The heading of Article 42 and Article 42 are hereby amended and now read:

»Special Obligations of Public Telecommunications Service Providers

Article 42

(1) The public telecommunications service providers must also ensure an equal availability of their services in the public telecommunications network to disabled users.

(2) The public telecommunications service providers must ensure to the users of their services an appropriate protection from abuse and fraud in the public telecommunications network.

(3) In cases referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Article, the users of public telecommunications services shall not bear the costs caused by a third person to the service users or service providers.«

 

Article 25

Paragraph 2 in Article 44 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) The Itemized bill referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article must contain all the necessary details which enable the users of services a simple check and control of the costs incurred by the provision of these services,  i.e. by the use of the public telecommunications network. These data shall not include details about free-of-charge calls, except for calls referred to in Article 73, Paragraph 4 hereof, neither details about calls to emergency telephone numbers, nor data that are incompatible with provisions of special regulations on the protection of personal data.«

 

Article 26

In Article 48, Paragraph 7, the words: “and the persons registered to provide directory enquiry service about subscriber numbers” are added after the words: “users of services”.

 

Article 27

The heading of Article 49 and Article 49 are hereby amended and now read:

»Submitting and Handling Complaints and Claiming Compensation

Article 49

(1) A subscriber or a service user may submit a complaint to the service provider about the amount charged for the provided telecommunications service, as well as a complaint about the quality of the telecommunications services provided.

(2) The subscriber or user of services shall submit the complaint referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, in writing to the competent service of the service provider which handles the complaint resolution procedure. The complaint must contain facts and evidence that serve as its basis.

(3) The subscriber or user of services may submit the complaint referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article within 30 days from the billing date for the provided telecommunications services if the complaint concerns the amount charged for the provided telecommunications services. If the complaint concerns the quality of the provided telecommunications service, it may be submitted within 30 days from the provided telecommunications service.

(4) In the case that the complaint referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article is submitted, the competent service of the service provider shall check the amount charged for the telecommunications service provided, alternatively, the quality of the telecommunications service provided. Based on this check, the competent service must either confirm the amount owed or adjust it to reflect the correct amount.

(5) Before the complaint is resolved, the subscriber or user of services who submitted a complaint about the amount charged as referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, shall pay an average amount of his/her charges in the period of a maximum of three months preceding the period covered by the complaint. If this complaint concerns certain calling numbers, i.e. a certain type of outgoing calls in the bill for the public voice services provided, the service provider must enable without delay, at the request of the subscriber or the user of services, blocking of such outgoing calls free of charge, until the complaint is resolved.

(6) The subscriber or user of services who submitted a complaint about the quality of telecommunications service as referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, may claim compensation of damages from the service provider if found that the quality of provided telecommunications service was below the level of service quality determined by the Ordinance on Telecommunications Services referred to in Article 23 Paragraph 3 hereof, general operating conditions of the service provider, or by a contract concluded with the service provider.

(7) The service provider shall not be obliged to pay for the damages referred to in Paragraph 6 of this Article if the level of quality of the telecommunications service provided is below the prescribed or agreed level of service quality due to objective causes which could not have been anticipated or eliminated (force majeure).

(8) The service provider is obliged to deliver a written response to the subscriber or user of services on whether the submitted complaint referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article bears grounds, at the latest within 45 days from the submitted complaint.

(9) In case of a dispute between the subscriber or the user of services and the service provider concerning the amount charged as referred to in Paragraph 4 of this Article, or concerning the amount of compensation for damages as referred to in Paragraph 6 of this Article, the subscriber or the user of services may, at the latest within 30 days from the day of receipt of the written response referred to in Paragraph 8 of this Article, submit a written request for dispute resolution to the Council of Users of Telecommunications Services.

(10) The provisions of general regulations governing civil obligations shall apply to all issues concerning the claims referred to in this Article and their respective statutes of limitation

 

Article 28

The heading of Article 50 and Article 50 are hereby amended and now read:

»Dispute Resolution with Mediation of the Council of Users of Telecommunications Services

Article 50

(1) The Council of Users of Telecommunications Services (hereinafter: The Council of Users) shall be established with the Agency as an advisory body that mediates in resolving disputes between the service providers and users of services, as well as performs other tasks related to the protection of rights of users of public telecommunications services, in accordance with the provisions of this Article. 

(2) The Council of Users consists of nine members appointed by the Minister for a period of four years. In the procedure of their appointment, the Minister may previously publicly announce a vacancy.

(3) Persons who do not satisfy the requirements referred to in Article 9, Paragraph 7 hereof may not be appointed as members of the Council of Users.

(4) The chairman and deputy chairman of the Council of Users are elected by the Council of Users by a majority of votes of all the members of the Council of Users.

(5) The Minister may dismiss members of the Council of Users before the expiry of their term of office.

(6) The Council of Users shall issue decisions, put forward proposals and opinions by a majority vote of all members of the Council of Users at the sessions of the Council of Users. 

(7) In the mediation procedure referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the Council of Users shall apply the mediation and arbitration rules in accordance with the provisions of special regulations.

(8) The mediation procedure shall start by acceptance of the proposal for instituting mediation proceedings, filed in writing by the service providers and the users of services as the parties in dispute, in compliance with the provisions of a special regulation on mediation.

(9) The parties in dispute shall appoint, in mutual agreement, one or more mediators who are authorised based on the parties’ agreement to conduct the mediation proceedings.  In case of inability to reach an agreement on the number and/or actual mediators, the Council of Users shall appoint one mediator among the judges or attorneys. The mediator shall be an independent and unbiased person, and shall treat equally and fairly each of the parties in dispute.

(10) The mediation proceedings shall be conducted in compliance with the parties’ written agreement. Unless the parties in dispute agreed otherwise, the mediator shall conduct the mediation proceedings whatever way he/she finds appropriate, taking account of all the facts and circumstances relevant for dispute resolution, parties’ requests and the need to reach a swift and permanent resolution of the dispute. The mediator may at any time during the mediation proceedings propose settlement as resolution of the dispute, including the content of that particular solution.

(11) The mediation proceedings shall be closed in any of the following cases: 

– reaching the resolution of the dispute,

decision of the mediator to discontinue the mediation proceedings, when the mediator finds further efforts to reach an amicable resolution of the dispute ineffective,

– written statement of any party in dispute on the withdrawal from the mediation proceedings, unless two or more of the remaining parties in dispute intend to further pursue mediation proceedings,

– if the dispute resolution is not reached within 60 days from the acceptance of the proposal to institute the mediation proceedings referred to in Paragraph 8 of this Article.

(12) In case of dispute resolution, the parties shall enter into a settlement and the mediator may, at the request of the parties in dispute, participate in the drafting of such settlement. The settlement shall be an enforceable instrument if the notary public certifies parties’ signatures on the settlement.

(13) The mediator shall report, in writing, to the Council of Users upon the completion of the mediation proceedings referred to in Paragraph 11 of this Article. The provisions of a special regulation on mediation shall apply accordingly to all other matters associated with mediation proceedings that are not covered by this Article.

(14) In cases when the mediation proceedings were completed without a positive outcome, the Council of Users may direct the parties in dispute to institute arbitration proceedings before filing a complaint to the authorized court.  

(15) The arbitration proceedings for dispute resolution referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be agreed and carried out in accordance with the provisions of a special regulation on arbitration.

(16) In the arbitration proceedings, the Council of Users shall enjoy rights and obligations of an arbitration institution that organises and ensures the functioning of the arbitration court, including the appointment of arbitrators, receipt of the complaint and delivery of the verdict to the parties in dispute, in compliance with the provisions of the special regulation referred to in Paragraph 15 of this Article.

(17) The Council of Users shall monitor and analyse the state of affairs in the field of public telecommunications services, particularly the provision of universal telecommunications services, and shall regularly report to the Agency about this. The Council of Users shall specifically undertake measures aimed at improvement of public availability of information and promotion of rights of users of public telecommunications services.

(18) The Council of Users may put forward proposals and opinions to the Agency to undertake measures and improve the state of affairs in the field of protection and exercise of rights of users of public telecommunications services, particularly the users of universal telecommunications services.

(19) With a view of performing tasks of the Council of Users in compliance with the provisions of this Article, the Agency shall provide necessary data to the Council of Users, as well as notifications and documentation which it collects and keeps in compliance with the provisions hereof, taking account of the obligation of non-disclosure of official secrets.

(20) The work of the Council shall be public. The Council of Users must regularly publish data on the disputes referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, that were resolved in the mediation or arbitration proceedings, as well as the data on the disputes referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article in which a complaint was filed before the competent court. The data on the disputes mediated by the Council of Users, as well as the opinions, i.e. proposals of the Council of Users referred to in Paragraphs 17 and 18 and the acts of the Council of Users referred to in Paragraphs 21 and 22 of this Article, shall be published in accordance with the provisions of Article 14 hereof.

(21) The Council of Users shall submit an annual report on its work to the Ministry and the Agency, not later than the end of February for the previous calendar year.

(22) The Council of Users shall pass an ordinance on its work.

(23) The members of the Council of Users are entitled to a monthly remuneration for their work in an amount determined by the Minister. The costs of the Council of Users and the remuneration for other costs to the members of the Council of Users shall be allocated from the funds of the Agency.

(24) The professional, administrative and technical tasks for the needs of the Council of Users shall be carried out by the Agency

 

Article 29

The heading of Article 51 and Article 51 are hereby amended and now read:

»Operators and Service Providers with Significant Market Power

Article 51

(1) An operator or service provider shall be considered to have significant market power on the relevant market if his market share on that relevant market exceeds 25%.

(2) The Agency’s Council may, ex officio or at the request of the operator or service provider, determine by a decision that the operator or service provider referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, does not have significant market power on the relevant market, in accordance with the ordinance referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article.

(3) The Agency’s Council may, ex officio or at the request of the operator or service provider, determine by a decision that an operator or service provider whose market share on the relevant market is below 25%, has significant market power on that relevant market, in accordance with the ordinance referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article.

(4) The market share referred to in Paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Article shall be considered to be a percentage share of income of the operator or service provider on the relevant market in the total income generated on that relevant market.

(5) The conditions and manner of determining relevant markets in the context of provisions of Paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article shall be described in more detail by an ordinance passed by the minister.

(6) Prior to issuing a decision which determines the operator or service provider with significant market power on the relevant market, the Agency’s Council may request an opinion of the Croatian Competition Agency.

(7) At least once a year, the Agency shall publish in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia a list of relevant markets and operators, or service providers who have significant market power on these relevant markets, in accordance with Article 14 Paragraph 4 hereof.

(8) In the procedure of issuing a decision in accordance with the provisions of Paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, the Agency’s Council shall particularly take account of each of the following indicators:

1. market share of the operator or service provider,

2. existence of efficient competition or possible competition,

3. restrictions for the entry of new entrants on the market,

4. influence of huge service users to the market power of an operator or service provider,

5. elasticity of offer and demand,

6. level of development of the relevant market,

7. technological advantages,

8. development of sales and distributive networks,

9. existence of local economy or economy of scale,

10. vertical integration level,

11. product differentiation level,

12. possibilities of access to financial funds.

(9) The Agency’s Council may also determine by a decision the existence of joint significant market power of two or more operators or service providers, in accordance with the provisions of this Article, particularly taking account of each of the following indicators:

1. common market share and similarity of market shares,

2. level of development of the relevant market,

3. stagnating or moderate increase of demand,

4. elasticity of offer and demand,

5. homogeneity of services,

6. lack of technical innovation and technology obsoleteness,

7. lack of excess capacities,

8. restrictions for the entry of new entrants on the market,

9. influence of huge service users on the market power of operators or service providers,

10. existence of efficient competition or possible competition,

11. various types of unofficial or other links between operators or service providers,

12. existence of efficient countermeasures,

13. lack or limited possibility of price competition.

(10) The operators or service providers with significant market power on the relevant market shall provide their services to all participants on the market under comparable circumstances, equal conditions and at the same level at which they provide those services for their own needs or the needs of associated companies, observing the principles of non-discrimination, transparency and cost orientation of tariff systems and open network access

 

Article 30

Paragraph 7 in Article 53 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(7) The operators with significant market power must, at the request of the Agency’s Council, provide standard interfaces and enable the use of special interfaces.«

 

Article 31

The words: »More detailed conditions for network access, including interconnection, shall be prescribed« in Article 59, Paragraph 1 are hereby substituted by the words: »The manner and conditions for access to the telecommunications network and interconnection shall be prescribed in more detail«.

Paragraph 2 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) The Ordinance referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall specifically stipulate the minimum scope of the reference offers for interconnection and interconnection agreements, pricing regulation principles for interconnection, the manner and conditions for shared use of telecommunications infrastructure and equipment, the dispute resolution procedures and obligations of the operator and the Agency concerning network access and interconnection.«

 

Article 32

Article 60 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(1) The operators of fixed public telephone networks, designated by the Agency’s Council as the operators with significant market power on the relevant market of services of fixed public telephone networks, namely, public voice services and services of transfer of speech, sound, data, documents, images and other in the fixed telecommunications network, shall, at the request of other operators, enable access to their unbundled local loop and related facilities, observing the principles of transparency, equality, non-discrimination and cost orientation.

(2) The operators referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be under the obligation to negotiate the request for unbundled access to the local loop. If an agreement on unbundled access to the local loop between the operators may not be reached within 30 days from the date of receipt of the request for unbundled access to the local loop, the operators engaged in negotiations on unbundled access to the local loop may contact the Agency with that request.

(3) The prices for the provision of unbundled access to the local loop and related facilities shall be determined in compliance with the principles of transparency, non-discrimination, objectivity and cost orientation, and must be based on true costs of services provided, including a reasonable rate of return on investments.

(4) The operators referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article must provide the service of unbundled access to the local loop and related facilities under equal conditions and terms, and a level of service quality which may not be less than the level at which they provide those services to their own subscribers, or a level of services for the needs of their associated companies.

(5) The operators referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article must, at the request of the Agency’s Council, prepare and deliver a reference offer for access to their unbundled local loops and related facilities, which must be itemized in detail and must in particular contain the conditions for unbundled access to the local loop, including the price for that service, which may not include the costs of constituent parts of the telecommunications network or related facilities that are not necessary for the provision of that service.

(6) The Agency’s Council shall, within 30 days from the receipt of the reference offer referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article, approve the reference offer, alternatively request modification or supplements to the reference offer.

(7) In the case of request for modification or supplement to the reference offer referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article, the operators are obliged to deliver the modified or supplemented reference offer to the Agency within fifteen days from the receipt of such a request. If the modifications or supplements to the reference offer were not made in compliance with the request, the Agency’s Council shall, within an additional eight days, either modify or supplement the reference offer by a decision and deliver it to the operators for the purpose of its publication.

(8) The operators referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall appropriately publish the reference offers referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article, within eight days from the receipt of the approval to the reference offer, or from the receipt of the decision referred to in Paragraph 7 of this Article.

(9) The operators referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article are obliged to update their reference offers referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article regularly, not less than once a year. It is required to obtain the approval of the Agency’s Council for modifications and supplements to the reference offer.

(10) With a view of ensuring non-discrimination, enhancing fair market competition, economic efficiency and most favourable conditions for the users of services, the Agency’s Council, if deemed necessary, is entitled to do the following: 

– make the modification or supplement to the reference offer referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article, including the prices, when justified,

request the operators referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article to provide required data concerning the implementation of the local loop unbundling procedure.

(11) If the Agency’s Council, with the previously obtained opinion of the Croatian Competition Agency, finds that the market of services of unbundled access to the local loop is sufficiently developed, it shall relieve the operators referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article of the obligation to determine the prices for unbundled access to the local loop and related facilities based on cost orientation.

(12) The Agency’s Council shall settle disputes between operators concerning unbundled access to the local loop by accordingly applying the provisions of Article 56 Paragraph 12 hereof

 

Article 33

Article 61 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(1) The manner and conditions for unbundled access to the local loop shall be prescribed in more detail by the Ordinance on unbundled access to the local loop passed by the Minister.

(2) The Ordinance referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall particularly regulate the minimum scope of the reference offer and of the contract on unbundled access to the local loop, pricing regulation principles for unbundled access to the local loop, the manner and conditions for shared use of equipment, the dispute resolution procedures and the obligations of the operators and the Agency concerning unbundled access to the local loop and related facilities

 

Article 34

In Article 62, Paragraph 4, the word: “of services” is hereby inserted after the word: ”user” .

Paragraph 7 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(7) The mandatory contents of general operating conditions referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be prescribed by the Ordinance on Telecommunications Services referred to in Article 23, Paragraph 3 hereof.«

A new Paragraph 8 is added after Paragraph 7, and it reads:

»(8) The Agency’s Council may determine by a decision additional clauses which must be included into the general operating conditions referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article.«

 

Article 35

Paragraph 2 in Article 63 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) The pricing system principles for telecommunications services provided only by one service provider in domestic and international telecommunications traffic, as well as  the service provider with significant power on the relevant market, shall be prescribed by the Ordinance on telecommunications services referred to in Article 23 Paragraph 3 hereof.«

Paragraph 5 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(5) The user shall pay for the service according to the service price list determined by the service provider. The price may contain a one-time fee which corresponds to the price of connection, a fee for a monthly or a longer calculation period which corresponds to the price of access to the telecommunications system, price of realized telecommunications traffic, as well as other constituent parts of the pricing system.«

Paragraph 7 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(7) The Agency’s Council may, for the purpose of resolving a certain dispute, order a change of the prices for services provided by the service provider referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article.«

Paragraph 10 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(10) The Agency’s Council may issue a decision ordering suitable changes of the prices for services in case of lack of efficient market competition, in case the operator or service provider with significant market power on the relevant market infringes the principles of transparency, equality and cost orientation of prices for services, in the following manner:

1. charging too high prices for services,

2. precluding market entry to other participants,

3. restricting market competition by charging excessive or too low prices for services,

4. providing unjustified benefits to certain users of services,

5. unjustified connection of certain types of services.«

Paragraph 11 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(11) The Agency’s Council may, when determining the change in prices of services referred to in Paragraph 10 of this Article, apply the following procedures:

1. determine the maximum prices for services,

2. regulate individual prices for services,

3. cost orientation of prices for services,

4. determine prices for services pursuant to the prices on comparable markets.«

Paragraph 12 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(12) The Agency must ensure that the systems of monitoring expenses used by the operators and service providers with significant market power on the relevant market are suitable for application of the principles of transparency and cost orientation in the pricing system for end-users of services. The method of costs monitoring shall be determined by a decision of the Agency

 

Article 36

In Article 66, Paragraph 2, the words: »in writing« are hereby deleted.

In Paragraph 8, the words: »the format and the contents of the application form referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the time limits for dealing with applications« are hereby substituted by the words: »the format and the contents of the application form and the time limits for dealing with applications«.

 

Article 37

In Article 70, Paragraph 1, the words: »it determines the following« are substituted by words: »it determines that any of the following conditions has been met«.

At the end of the sentence in Paragraph 2, a full stop is hereby substituted by a comma, with simultaneous insertion of the words: »and the operators, service providers and end-users of services are not entitled to remuneration of costs

 

Article 38

Paragraph 2 in Article 71 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) The request for granting the approval for transfer of the right for using the addresses and numbers shall be submitted to the Agency in a prescribed form jointly by both operators or service providers referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, and the Agency may also, depending on available technical capabilities, receive the request electronically.«

 

Article 39

Paragraph 5 in Article 72 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(5) The manner and conditions of providing number portability and carrier pre-selection in fixed and mobile telecommunications networks, as well as the schedule and dynamics of introducing these services in the Republic of Croatia, shall be prescribed in greater detail by an ordinance passed by the Minister.«

 

Article 40

In Article 73, new Paragraphs 4 and 5 are added after Paragraph 3, and then read:

»(4) The operators and service providers must enable the users of public telecommunications services free-of-charge calls to the Single European Emergency Call Number, as well as to the current emergency call numbers, from any telephone device, including all public pay telephones.

(5) The operators and service providers must deliver to the central authority in charge of receiving emergency calls, in accordance with a special regulation, data on names and surnames or company names of callers, the calling line and the location from which the call was made.«

Former Paragraph 4, which is renumbered as Paragraph 6, is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(6) The manner, conditions and the dynamics for the introduction and use of the Single European Emergency Call Number shall be stipulated in greater detail by an ordinance passed by the Minister.«

 

Article 41

The heading of Article 74 and Article 74 are hereby deleted.

 

Article 42

Paragraph 3 in Article 75 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(3) The efficient management of the radiofrequency spectrum, including the purpose of the radiofrequency areas and allocation of radio frequencies, must be based on the principles of transparency, objectivity, proportionality and non-discrimination.«

A new Paragraph 4 is added after Paragraph 3, and it reads:

»(4) The database of the radiofrequency spectrum, which is kept by the Agency, must specifically include a list of assigned and available radio frequencies and radiofrequency  channels pursuant to the allocation plans referred to in Article 77 hereof, with associated data on the purpose and use of these radiofrequencies and channels, the geographical area of their use and the owners, or users of radio stations to whom these radiofrequencies and channels were allocated.«

 

Article 43

In Article 77, Paragraph 1, a full stop is added after the word: »Act« and the remainder of the sentence is hereby deleted.

Paragraph 3 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(3) The  Agency shall regularly, at least once in every three months, deliver the Radio Frequency Assignment Plans concerning the radio and television frequency areas, to the Electronic Media Council, with an overview of assigned and available radio frequencies and other necessary technical data.«

Paragraph 4 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(4) Within the Radio Frequency Assignment Plans referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article, the Agency shall particularly make plans for radio frequencies for the needs of the public institution, Croatian Radio-Television.«

 

Article 44

Paragraph 2 in Article 78 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) The conditions for the assignment and use of radio frequencies for maritime and aeronautical radio-communications services  and inland navigation radio-communications services may be stipulated in more detail by the ordinance referred to in Article 84 Paragraph 3 hereof.«

 

Article 45

Paragraph 2 in Article 80 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) The conditions for the assignment and use of radio frequencies intended for citizens (citizens’ frequency band, CB) may be stipulated in more detail by the Ordinance referred to in Article 84 Paragraph 3 hereof.«

 

Article 46

In Article 84, a new Paragraph 4 is hereby added after Paragraph 3, and it reads:

»(4) Depending on available technical capabilities, the Agency may also receive the requests for issuing licenses, referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, electronically.«

 

Article 47

Article 85 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(1) The license for the use of radio frequencies shall be issued to a legal entity which has been granted a concession for frequency for the provision of public telecommunications services in the mobile telecommunications network with the use of the radio frequency spectrum, in accordance with Article 24, Paragraph 1 hereof.

(2) The license for the use of radio frequencies shall be issued concurrently with the conclusion of the concession agreement referred to in Article 30 Paragraph 1 hereof.

(3) The concessionaire of public telecommunications services referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall communicate to the Agency data on the geographic location and technical data for each basic station installed in its mobile telecommunications network, within eight days from the date when the basic station started operation. 

(4) The concessionaire of public telecommunications services referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall, at the request of the telecommunications inspector or telecommunications supervisor, submit a report on performed radio measurements on basic stations in its mobile telecommunications network, in accordance with the Ordinance referred to in Article 30 Paragraph 1 hereof.

(5) On the basis of the report of the concessionaire referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article, the Agency shall, in accordance with the ordinance referred to in Article 101 Paragraph 2 hereof, issue a Safety Certificate, thereby confirming that the installed basic station in the mobile telecommunications network does not radiate electro-magnetic fields the range of which exceeds the allowed values.

(6) The Safety Certificate referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article constitutes a requirement for issuance of the operating permit for the basic station, which is issued pursuant to a special act regulating construction.«

 

Article 48

In Article 86, Paragraph 4, the words “may be prolonged to 60 days« are hereby substituted by the words: »may be extended to a maximum of 120 days«.

Paragraph 6 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(6) Certain types of radio stations, for which the Agency issues a permit for a radio station, shall be subject to technical inspection to be performed by the Agency or a legal entity authorised by the Agency’s Council, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed by the Ordinance referred to in Article 30 Paragraph 1 hereof.«

Paragraph 8 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(8) By virtue of exception, the Agency may, on the basis of a submitted request, issue a temporary license referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, for a radio station or radio system used for the purpose of market or technical survey, research or projects, or for the needs of sports or other events of temporary nature, for a maximum period of three months, provided the conditions referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article are met. After the expiry of that term, the radio station or radio system may only be used under the conditions prescribed by this Act

 

Article 49

A new Paragraph 1 is added in Article 91, and it reads:

»(1) A license for a radio station and license for the use of radio frequencies shall cease to be valid on the day of expiry stated in the license, except in the case referred to in Article 89 Paragraph 2 hereof.«

In former Paragraph 1, which is renumbered as Paragraph 2, Item 1 is deleted, and former Items 2 – 6 are renumbered as Items 1 – 5.

Former Paragraph 2 is hereby renumbered as Paragraph 3.

 

Article 50

In Article 95, a new Paragraph 3 is hereby added after Paragraph 2, and it reads:

»(3) In the case referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Article, neither the provisions hereof concerning issuance of the licence for the use of radio frequencies, license for a radio station and general license, nor the provisions concerning the payment of fees for assignment and use of radio frequencies, shall apply to radio stations of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, or police or security services of the Republic of Croatia.«

In former Paragraph 3, which is hereby renumbered as Paragraph 4, the words: »shall be prescribed« are substituted by the words: »may be prescribed in more detail«.

 

Article 51

In Article 97, Paragraph 5, a comma and the words »and of the same identification mark « are added after the word: »manufacturer«.

A new Paragraph 6 is added after Paragraph 5, and it reads: 

»(6) A legal or physical person may import R&TT equipment for own needs into the Republic of Croatia, as well as samples of R&TT equipment intended for testing, display and presentation in public in the territory of the Republic of Croatia, in a way prescribed by the Ordinance referred to in Article 98 Paragraph 1 hereof.«

Former Paragraph 6, which is hereby renumbered as Paragraph 7, is amended and it now reads:

»(7) The Agency shall publish, in an appropriate manner, a list of R&TT equipment for which the approval referred to in Paragraph 4 of this Article was issued .«

A new Paragraph 8 is hereby added after Paragraph 7, and it reads: 

»(8) Special conditions referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article, which the R&TT equipment intended for maritime and aeronautical services must comply with, shall be determined pursuant to special regulations.«

 

Article 52

In the heading of Article 98, the words: »Framework Principles« are hereby substituted for the words: »Detailed Conditions«.

Paragraph 2 in Article 98 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) The Ordinance referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall particularly specify the manner and procedures of conformity assessment of R&TT equipment with the essential requirements referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article, the manner and procedures of authorising the body for conformity assessment of the R&TT equipment, the procedure of issuing approvals for import and placing on the market of the R&TT equipment, marks and manner of marking R&TT equipment, as well as provisions on harmonised standards and other European and international standards required for conformity assessment of R&TT equipment.«

 

Article 53

In Article 99, Paragraph 1, a comma after the word: »Act« is hereby erased, and the words: »which must also contain a photocopy of the original declaration« are substituted by the words »and a photocopy of the original Statement of Conformity, if such equipment was not manufactured in the Republic of Croatia«.

In Paragraph 3, the words: »putting the R&TT equipment into service« are substituted by the words: »putting the R&TT equipment on the market«.

 

Article 54

In the heading of Article 100, the words: »the Right to Connect« are substituted by the words: »Connecting the R&TT Equipment«.

Paragraph 4 in Article 100 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(4) R&TT equipment which does not conform with the essential requirements referred to in Article 98 Paragraph 3 hereof, may be displayed and presented in public in the territory of the Republic of Croatia, provided that it be clearly and evidently indicated that the use of such R&TT equipment shall not be allowed in the Republic of Croatia.«

 

Article 55

In Article 101, Paragraph 3, the words: »and radio stations« are hereby deleted.

 

Article 56

A comma after the word: »telecommunications« in Article 102, Paragraph 1 is hereby erased and the word »and« is added, while the words: »or radio stations« are deleted.

Paragraph 3 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(3) The ordinance referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Article shall particularly prescribe the manner and procedure for assessment of conformity of electrical and other technical equipment with the requirements relating to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), the manner and procedure for the authorisation of bodies involved in the assessment of conformity, the marks and manner of marking electrical and other technical equipment, as well as the provisions on harmonised standards and other European and international standards in the field of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).«

 

Article 57

A full stop at the end of the sentence in Article 103, Paragraph 2 is hereby substituted for a comma and the following words are added : »in accordance with the ordinance referred to in Article 30 Paragraph 1 hereof.«

 

Article 58

Paragraph 1 in Article 104 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(1) The owners, or users of electrical and other technical equipment or radio stations must enable the Agency or a legal entity authorised by the Agency’s Council to carry out undisturbed inspection and necessary measurements and testing in order to identify the source of interference, provide necessary assistance and enable insight into the documentation necessary for carrying out such an inspection, measurement and testing.«

Paragraph 2 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(2) If the inspection, measurements and testing referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article reveal that electrical and other technical equipment or a radio station causes interferences exceeding the level allowed by law, the telecommunications supervisor shall in writing request the owner, or user of such equipment or radio station to remove the interferences within a prescribed term, which may not exceed 30 days, and to notify the Agency, as well as the person referred to in Article 103 Paragraph 1 Items 1 and 2 hereof, if necessary.«

The words: »the legal entity referred to in Article 103 of this Act, which detected the source of interference, will propose to the inspector of telecommunications that prescribed administrative measures be undertaken« in Paragraph 3, shall be substituted by the words: »the telecommunications supervisor shall undertake prescribed measures and inform the telecommunications inspector about this«.

The words: »at the request and with the participation of inspectors of telecommunications and an authorised employee of the Agency« in Paragraph 4 are hereby substituted by the words: »at the request of the Agency and in cooperation with the telecommunications supervisor«.

 

Article 59

The words: »the service provider« in Article 108, Paragraph 3 are substituted by the words: »the provider of public telecommunications services«.

 

Article 60

The second sentence in Article 110, Item 2 is hereby deleted.

A new Paragraph 2 is added after Paragraph 1, and it reads:

»(2) The Agency shall, with the approval of the Ministry, determine a list of competent state bodies and emergency services with pertinent calling numbers referred to in Paragraph 1 Item 2 of this Article, and it shall regularly, not less than once a year, and in an appropriate manner, publish the list in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia.«

 

Article 61

The heading of Chapter XIII is hereby amended and it now reads:

»XIII INSPECTION AND EXPERT SUPERVISION«.

 

Article 62

The heading of Article 112 and Article 112 are hereby amended and now read:

»Performing  Inspection Control

Article 112

(1) The Ministry shall carry out inspection tasks related to the enforcement of the provisions hereof and the regulations passed pursuant thereto, as well as to treaties and agreements in the field of telecommunications that are binding in the Republic of Croatia.

(2) The inspection control tasks referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be carried out by telecommunications inspectors. 

(3) The inspection tasks related to the enforcement of the provisions hereof, regulating possession of the licence for a radio station referred to in Article 86 and general license referred to in Article 87, shall be carried out by the ministry competent for internal affairs.

(4) The ministry competent for interior affairs shall perform the inspection tasks referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article either ex officio or at the request of the telecommunications inspector.

(5) In addition to the telecommunications inspector, the inspection control tasks related to the enforcement of the provisions hereof and regulations passed pursuant thereto, regulating import and placing on the market of R&TT equipment and electrical and other technical equipment, shall also be carried out by the State Inspectorate inspector who is authorised to undertake measures related to this control in accordance with this Act and special regulations.

(6) Legal and physical persons, to whom the provisions hereof apply, shall enable the telecommunications inspector to carry out the inspection control, particularly to inspect the telecommunications infrastructure and equipment, radio station and other R&TT equipment, and they shall make available or submit required data, notifications and documentation relating to the inspection control without delay.

(7) When carrying out the inspection control, the telecommunications inspector shall be authorised to inspect the business premises, buildings, equipment, business documentation and other items kept with the inspected persons, to use their technical means and equipment, to hear individuals in the administrative proceedings, to inspect identification documents of persons, and carry out other actions in compliance with the purpose of the inspection control.

(8) The telecommunications inspector must have on him/her an official card and badge, which prove his/her official capacity, identity and authority.

(9) The format and content of the card and badge, and the use of the official card and badge shall be stipulated in an ordinance passed by the Minister.

(10) The telecommunications inspector shall take minutes of the performed inspection control, determined state of affairs, and for measures and actions undertook or ordered. The telecommunications inspector shall hand over a copy of the minutes for the inspection control to the inspected person.

(11) The telecommunications inspector shall keep records of performed inspection controls. The content and manner of keeping records shall be stipulated in an ordinance passed by the Minister

 

Article 63

A new heading and a new Article 112a are added After Article 112, and then read: 

»Performing  Expert Supervision

Article 112a

(1) The Agency shall carry out expert supervision of the provision of telecommunications services and activities, which are provided pursuant to a concession, license, written application or authority, expert supervision of the work of the users of radiofrequencies and owners, or users of radio stations, as well as expert supervision of the enforcement of the provisions hereof regulating the control of the radiofrequency spectrum, as well as measurements and testing for the purpose of determining the sources of interferences referred to in Articles 102 and 103 hereof, as well as undertaking measures for the removal thereof.

(2) The expert supervision tasks referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be carried out by telecommunications supervisors, who are employees of the Agency’s administrative service.

(3) The telecommunications supervisor shall regularly report in writing to the telecommunications inspector on the performed expert supervision and the determined state of affairs, within a maximum of 30 days from the completion of the expert supervision.

(4) In addition to expert supervision tasks referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the telecommunications supervisor shall, at the request of the telecommunications inspector, cooperate in the performance of inspection control tasks.

(5) Legal and physical persons, to whom the provisions hereof apply, shall enable the telecommunications supervisor to carry out the expert supervision, particularly to inspect the telecommunications infrastructure and equipment, radio station and other R&TT equipment, and they shall make available or submit required data, notifications and documentation relating to the expert supervision without delay.

(6) When carrying out the expert supervision, the telecommunications supervisor shall be authorised to inspect the business premises, buildings, equipment, business documentation and other items kept with the inspected persons, to use their technical means and equipment, to inspect identification documents of persons, and carry out other actions in compliance with the purpose of expert supervision.

(7) The telecommunications supervisor must have on him/her an official card and badge, which prove his/her official capacity, identity and authority.

(8) The format and content of the card and badge, and the use of the official card and badge shall be stipulated in the Ordinance referred to in Article 112, Paragraph 9 hereof.

(9) The telecommunications supervisor shall make a report on the expert supervision performed, the determined state of affairs and measures and actions undertook or ordered. The telecommunications supervisor shall hand over a copy of the report on expert supervision to the inspected person.

(10) The telecommunications supervisor shall keep records on performed expert supervision. The content and manner of keeping records shall be stipulated in an ordinance referred to in Article 112, Paragraph 11 hereof

 

Article 64

The heading of Article 113 and Article 113 are hereby amended and now read:

»Authorities of the Telecommunications Inspector

Article 113

(1) When carrying out the inspection control referred to in Article 112 hereof, the telecommunications inspector shall have the following duties and obligations:

1. to order the provision of telecommunications services and activities in accordance with the provisions hereof and regulations passed pursuant thereto, and in accordance with the conditions determined in the decision on granting concession and the concession agreement, license, written application or authority,

2. to order the remedy of found irregularities, faults or omissions within a certain term,

3. to forbid the provision of telecommunications services or activities for which a valid concession or license has not been obtained, or for which the prescribed concession agreement has not been concluded, or for which the prescribed written request to the Agency was not submitted in advance, or for which the prescribed authorisation was not obtained, or if telecommunications services or activities have repeatedly been provided contrary to the provisions hereof and regulations passed pursuant thereto, and to define the measures in order to terminate further provision of such services and activities,

4. to forbid the operation and use of a radio station or other R&TT equipment for which a valid license has not been obtained, or if such radio station or other R&TT equipment has repeatedly been used contrary to the provisions hereof and regulations passed pursuant thereto, and to define the measures in order to terminate further operation and use of such radio station or other R&TT equipment,

5. to temporarily forbid the operation and use of telecommunications equipment, radio station or other R&TT equipment, causing harmful interference or other disturbances, until such disturbances be removed,

6. to forbid the import, manufacturing, sale, leasing and use of telecommunications equipment, radio station or other R&TT equipment, that do not conform with the requirements established by this Act and the regulations passed pursuant thereto, and to determine measures for its temporary or permanent withdrawal from the market,

7. to forbid installation of technical equipment in the protected zone or radio corridor of radio stations, or in the zone of telecommunications infrastructure and equipment or connecting route, if the installation of such equipment is not in conformity with the provisions hereof and regulations passed pursuant thereto,

8. to inform, without delay, the construction inspection in writing, in case of carrying out works or construction of new buildings in the protected zone or the radio corridor of radio stations, or the zone of telecommunications infrastructure and equipment or connecting route, if the carrying out of such works or construction of such buildings is not in conformity with the provisions hereof and regulations passed pursuant thereto, and with special regulations governing construction.

(2) Within the framework of measures referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the telecommunications inspector shall have authority to fully or partly seal or temporarily seize telecommunications equipment, radio station or other R&TT equipment, which shall be entered into the minutes of the inspection control, with mandatory issuance of a certificate to that effect. The form, content and manner of use of the seal for equipment sealing shall be stipulated by an ordinance passed by the Minister.

(3) If the telecommunications inspector, either during the inspection control or on the basis of a report submitted by the telecommunications supervisor, finds that a misdemeanour has occurred by violation of the provisions hereof or regulations passed pursuant thereto, he/she shall without delay, and at the latest 30 days from the completion of the inspection control or receipt of the report, submit a request to institute misdemeanour proceedings to  the qualified misdemeanour authority, in compliance with the provisions of the Misdemeanour Act.

(4) In addition to the request to institute the misdemeanour proceedings referred to in Paragraph 3 hereof, the telecommunications inspector may issue a misdemeanour order in accordance with the provisions of the Misdemeanour Act, ordering pecuniary fines and protective measures, prescribed by the provisions referred to in Articles 116, 116a and 117 hereof.

(5) The misdemeanour order referred to in Paragraph 4 of this Article may be issued against a legal or physical person, or against a person liable to the respective legal entity. 

(6) The qualified misdemeanour authority referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article shall report to the Ministry on the outcome of the proceedings

 

Article 65

A new heading and Article 113.a are added After Article 113, and they read:

»Authorities of the Telecommunications Supervisor

Article 113.a

(1) When performing expert supervision referred to in Article 112.a hereof, the telecommunications supervisor shall have the following duties and obligations:

1. to carry out expert supervision and inspect the provision of telecommunications services and activities that are provided pursuant to a concession, license, written application or authority, and specifically the fulfilment of conditions determined by this Act and regulations passed pursuant thereto, i.e. conditions determined in a decision on granting concession and the concession agreement, license, written application or authority,

2. to carry out expert supervision of the users of radio frequencies and owners, or users of radio stations, particularly the fulfilment of conditions determined by this Act and regulations passed pursuant thereto, i.e. conditions determined in the license for the use of radio frequencies, license for a radio station or a general license,

3. to carry out expert supervision of telecommunications infrastructure and equipment, radio stations or other R&TT equipment, as well as electrical and other technical equipment, and to inspect fulfilment of conditions determined by this Act and regulations passed pursuant thereto,

4. to determine the cause of harmful interferences, electromagnetic interferences or other disturbances caused by the radio station or other R&TT equipment, telecommunications equipment or electrical and other technical equipment, and to order or undertake measures for the removal thereof,

5. to carry out expert supervision and inspect the performance of measurements, testing and removal of found interferences, which are carried out in compliance with the provisions hereof  and regulations passed pursuant thereto, or to personally carry out, alternatively, to order the taking of necessary measurements, testing or the removal of found  interferences,

6. to propose to the telecommunications inspector to undertake appropriate measures referred to in Article 113 Paragraphs  1, 3 and 4 of this Act ,

7. to undertake other measures that he/she is authorised to undertake in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(2) When carrying out the measures referred to in Paragraph  1 of this Article, the telecommunications supervisor shall have the authority, in cases that require application of temporary measures without delay, to order removal of found irregularities, deficiencies or omissions, temporary forbid the provision of telecommunications services or activities, i.e. to temporarily forbid the operation and use of telecommunications equipment, radio station or other R&TT equipment or electrical and other technical equipment.

(3) The telecommunications supervisor shall report in writing to the telecommunications inspector without delay on the performed or ordered temporary measures referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Article.

(4) When carrying out the measures referred to in Paragraph 1, Items 2, 3 and 4 and Paragraph  2 of this Article, the telecommunications supervisor shall have the authority referred to in Article 113, Paragraph  2 hereof.

(5) If the telecommunications supervisor, during the expert supervision referred to in Article 112a Paragraph 1 hereof, finds that a misdemeanour has occurred by violation of the provisions hereof or regulations passed pursuant thereto, he/she shall without delay report in writing to the telecommunications inspector on the performed expert supervision and the determined state of affairs, with a proposal to undertake appropriate measures referred to in Article 113 Paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 hereof.

(6) In addition to the obligation referred to in Paragraph  5 of this Article, the telecommunications supervisor shall have the authority, in case of determining a misdemeanour referred to in Article 116 Paragraph 1 Items 1 and 2 hereof, to issue a misdemeanour order in accordance with the provisions of Article 113 Paragraphs  4 and 5 hereof, whereby he/she may order pecuniary fines and protective measures, prescribed by the provisions referred to in  Article 116 hereof, and file a request to institute misdemeanour proceedings with the competent misdemeanour authority, in accordance with the provisions of the Misdemeanour Act.

(7) The competent authority referred to in Paragraph 6 of this Article shall report to the Agency on the outcome of the proceedings

 

 

Article 66

The heading of Article 114 and Article 114 are hereby amended and now read:

»Enforcement of Decisions of the Telecommunications Inspector and Telecommunications Supervisor

Article 114

(1) No appeal may be filed against the decisions of the telecommunications inspector and telecommunications supervisor, but an administrative dispute may be instituted before the Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia, which does not postpone the enforcement of the decision.

(2) The proceedings before the Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia, in administrative disputes instituted in accordance with Paragraph 1 of this Article, shall be urgent.

(3) In case of non-compliance with the decisions referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the telecommunications inspector or telecommunications supervisor shall declare an administrative measure against a physical person or a person liable to the legal entity to which the decision refers, expressed in monetary funds to the amount of twenty times the average salary in the Republic of Croatia during the previous quarter. Each subsequent administrative measure shall be imposed in double that amount.

(4) The administrative measure referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article shall be enforced by the bodies competent for collection of pecuniary fines imposed for misdemeanour offences, and the amount shall be paid to the benefit of the State Budget of the Republic of Croatia.«

 

Article 67

The heading of Article 115 and Article 115 are hereby amended and now read:

»Authorization for Conducting Misdemeanour Proceedings

Article 115

(1) The Misdemeanour Court shall be authorized in the first degree for conducting misdemeanour proceedings for misdemeanour violations prescribed by this Act.

(2) In compliance with the provisions of the Misdemeanour Act, the telecommunications inspector and telecommunications supervisor may both issue a misdemeanour order in the misdemeanour proceedings, under the conditions stipulated herein.«

 

Article 68

The heading of Article 116 and Article 116 are hereby amended and now read:

»Grave Violations of the Provisions of this Act

Article 116

(1) A pecuniary fine in the amount of 1% to a maximum 5% of value of the total annual gross income generated by the provision of telecommunications services and activities, realized in the fiscal year preceding the year in which the violation was committed, shall be imposed upon a legal entity:

1. if it fails to comply with the decision of the Agency’s Council in accordance with the provisions of Article 13, Paragraph 7 hereof,

2. if it fails to comply with the request of the Agency referred to in Article 15, Paragraph 1 hereof,

3. if it fails to pay the amount referred to in Article 16, Paragraph 3 hereof within the prescribed term,

4. if it fails to submit notification of intention to concentrate in accordance with the provisions of Article 34 hereof,

5. if it fails to pay the prescribed fee for the provision of telecommunications services and activities in accordance with the provisions of Article 36,  Paragraphs 1 and 4 hereof,

6. if it fails to publish, or fails to set or adjust, the prices of its telecommunications services in accordance with the provisions of Article 63 hereof.

(2) A person liable to the legal entity shall also be fined for a violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article by a pecuniary fine in an amount ranging from HRK 20,000.00 to 100,000.00.

(3) By way of derogation from the provision referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Article, if the liable person has committed the violation intentionally, he/she will be fined with a pecuniary fine ranging from HRK 50,000.00 to 200,000.00.

(4) If a physical person has committed the violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, he/she will be fined with a pecuniary fine ranging from HRK 5,000.00 to 15,000.00.

(5) For the violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the protective measure of prohibiting performance of business activities in the duration from six months to two years may also be imposed.

(6) The material gain realized by the violation shall be seized

 

Article 69

A new Article 116a is added after Article 116, and it reads:

»Article 116.a

(1) A pecuniary fine ranging from HRK 20,000.00 to 500,000.00 shall be imposed upon a legal entity for the following violations:

1. if it hires a member of the Agency’s Council who was dismissed from duty, contrary to the provision of Article 10, Paragraph  3 hereof,

2. if it does not fulfil requirements concerning installation, use or maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure and equipment, or a radio station, in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 hereof,

3. if it connects its telecommunications network without the Agency’s approval referred to in Article 19, Paragraph 1 hereof,

4. if it, as a foreign operator, connects its telecommunications network with another foreign operator on the state territory of the Republic of Croatia, without the Ministry’s approval referred to in Article 19, Paragraph 4 hereof,

5. if it provides public telecommunications services with the use of the radiofrequency spectrum contrary to the provisions of Article 24, Paragraphs  1, 2 and 4 hereof,

6. if it provides telecommunications services which do not require the use of the radiofrequency spectrum contrary to the provisions of Article 25, Paragraphs 1, 2, 9 and 10 hereof,

7. if it transfers the concession to another legal entity contrary to the provisions of Article 32 hereof,

8. if it fails to provide the Universal Telecommunications Services telecommunications in accordance with the provisions of Article 37 hereof,

9. if it fails to ensure proper and undisturbed functioning of its telecommunications system pursuant to the provision of Article 39 Paragraph 1 hereof,

10. if it fails to pay the prescribed fee to the Universal Telecommunications Services Fund in accordance with the provisions of Article 41 hereof,

11. if it fails to enable insight and control of data on occurred costs, or to produce an Itemized bill to the users of services, in accordance with the provisions of Article 44 hereof,

12. if it fails to provide the services to all participants on the market in accordance with the provisions of Article 51 Paragraph 10 hereof,

13. if it fails to provide the services of access to the telecommunications network or abuses its significant market power, in accordance with the provisions of Article 52 hereof,

14. if it fails to offer standard or special interfaces or a special access to the telecommunications network, or it fails to deliver or publish the data on interfaces in accordance with the provisions of Article 53 hereof,

15. if it fails to comply with additional obligations concerning the request of the service provider for access to the telecommunications network in accordance with the provisions of Article 54 hereof,

16. if it fails to meet the minimum requirements for leased telecommunications lines in accordance with the provisions of Article 55 hereof,

17. if it fails to make a list of reference offers for interconnection, or fails to notify the Agency on the concluded interconnection agreement, or fails to set the prices for interconnection, or fails to deliver the prescribed data, or does not comply with other requirements related to interconnection in accordance with the provisions of Article 56 hereof,

18. if it subsidises the provision of telecommunications services contrary to the provisions of Article 57 Paragraphs 1 and 3 hereof,

19. if it fails to perform structural and accounting separation of its business activities in accordance with the provisions of Article 57 Paragraphs  2, 4 and 5 hereof,

20. if it restricts network access and interconnection contrary to the provisions of Article 58 hereof,

21. if it fails to allow access to its unbundled local loop and related facilities, or fails to determine prices for the provision of unbundled access to the local loop and related facilities, or fails to prepare the reference offer for unbundled access to the local loop and related facilities, or fails to meet other conditions concerning unbundled access to the local loop in accordance with the provisions of Article 60 hereof,

22. if it fails to prepare or publish in an appropriate manner the general operating conditions in accordance with the provisions of Article 62 hereof,

23. if it cedes telecommunications infrastructure or free telecommunications capacities  contrary to the provisions of Article 64 hereof,

24. if it fails to pay the prescribed fee for the use of addresses or numbers in accordance with the provisions of Article 66 Paragraphs  7 and 8 hereof,

25. if it uses addresses or numbers contrary to the provisions of Article 67 hereof,

26. if it transfers the rights to use the addresses or numbers contrary to the provisions of Article 71 hereof,

27. if it fails to enable the service of number portability, selection or pre-selection of operator in accordance with the provisions of Article 72 hereof,

28. if it fails to introduce a Single European Emergency Call Number or fails to treat calls directed to that number or existing emergency telephone numbers in accordance with the provisions of Article 73 hereof,

29. if it fails to obtain the prescribed license for the use of radiofrequencies referred to in Article 85 hereof,

30. if it uses the radio station without a prescribed license referred to in Article 86 hereof,

31. if it continues to use the radio station or radio system after the expiry of the deadline in the temporary license for a radio station contrary to the provisions of Article 86, Paragraph 8 hereof,

32. if it violates the provisions on confidentiality of radio messages, signals or communications referred to in Article 93 hereof,

33. if, after the receipt of the signal of danger, or calls, messages or communications which are broadcast in case of emergency, it acts contrary to the provisions of Article 94 hereof,

34. if it fails to pay the prescribed fee for allocation and use of radiofrequencies in accordance with the provisions of Article 96 hereof,

35. if it imports, places on the market, puts into operation or uses radio equipment or telecommunications terminal equipment, or samples of such equipment, contrary to the provisions of Article 97 hereof,

36. if it fails to enable undisturbed inspection, measurements and testing in order to identify the source of interference or fails to remove the disturbances found within the prescribed term in accordance with the provisions of Article 104,

37. if it fails to undertake appropriate measures to safeguard the security of its telecommunications services or telecommunications network, or fails to inform the users of services, or fails to designate a liable person in accordance with the provisions of Article 105 hereof,

38. if it violates the provisions on confidentiality of telecommunications communications or related telecommunications traffic data referred to in Article 106, Paragraph 1 hereof,

39. if it uses the public telecommunications network  contrary to the provisions of Article 106, Paragraph  4 hereof,

40. if it fails to treat the telecommunications traffic data in accordance with the provisions of Article 107 hereof,

41. if it uses calling systems with or without human mediation, facsimile machines or electronic mail, for the purpose of direct marketing, or  uses data on electronic addresses of consumers or sends electronic mail for the purpose of direct marketing contrary to the provisions of Article 111 hereof,

42. if it fails to enable the telecommunications inspector to carry out inspection control or inspect the telecommunications infrastructure and equipment, radio station or other R&TT equipment, or fails to make available or submit required data, notifications or documentation relating to the inspection control without delay, in accordance with the provisions of Article 112, Paragraphs  6 and 7 hereof,

43. if it fails to enable the telecommunications supervisor to carry out supervisory control or inspect the telecommunications infrastructure and equipment, radio station or other R&TT equipment, or fails to make available or submit required data, notifications or documentation relating to the supervisory control without delay, in accordance with the provisions of Article 112a Paragraphs 5 and 6 hereof.

(2) A person liable to the legal entity shall also be fined for a violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article by a pecuniary fine in an amount ranging from HRK 10,000.00 to 50,000.00.

(3) By way of derogation from the provision referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Article, if the liable person has committed the violation intentionally, he/she will be fined with a pecuniary fine ranging from HRK 20,000.00 to 100,000.00.

(4) If a physical person has committed the violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, he/she will be fined with a pecuniary fine ranging from HRK 2,000.00 to 10,000.00.

(5) For the violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the protective measure of prohibiting performance of business activities in duration of three months to one year, may be imposed.

(6) For the violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the protective measure of seizure of a radio station and/or other R&TT equipment may be declared. In case of violation referred to in Paragraph 1, Item 41 of this Article, the protective measure of seizure of computer and/or other technical equipment may also be declared.

(7) The material gain realized by the violation shall be seized

 

Article 70

Article 117 is hereby amended and it now reads:

(1) A pecuniary fine ranging from HRK 5,000.00 to 100,000.00 shall be imposed upon a legal entity for the following violations:

1. if it fails to plan, design, produce, construct, install, build-in, maintain or use telecommunications infrastructure and equipment in accordance with the provisions of Article 17, Paragraphs  1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hereof,

2. if it fails to ensure, at its own cost, reception of radio or television programs of the Croatian Radio Television or a concessionaire of radio-diffusion services on the territory covered by the concession, within 60 days from the date the interference was established, with an equal quality of reception as had existed before the interference occurred, in accordance with the provisions of Article 17, Paragraph 6 hereof,

3. if it installs technical equipment in the zone of telecommunications infrastructure, equipment or connecting route, i.e. the protection zone or radio corridor of a radio station contrary to the provisions of Article 20, Paragraph  3 hereof,

4. if it plants seedlings contrary to the provisions of Article 20, Paragraph  6 hereof,

5. if, in the case when appropriate technical conditions are met, it rejects to conclude a contract at the request of concessionaires of radio-diffusive services or operators in accordance with the provisions of Article 22 hereof,

6. if it provides services in the professional mobile radio (PMR) network, or connects this network to the public telecommunications network contrary to the provisions of Article 24, Paragraph 13 hereof,

7. if it, as a virtual mobile network operator, provides public telecommunications services contrary to the provisions of Article 24, Paragraph 14 hereof,

8. if it provides telecommunications services referred to in Article 23, Paragraph 2 hereof  contrary to the provisions of Article 27 hereof,

9. if it provides telecommunications services with the use of the free radio frequency spectrum  contrary to the provisions of Article 28 hereof,

10. if it provides activities in telecommunications without the prescribed authorisation referred to in Article 35 hereof,

11. if it fails to notify without delay, the Ministry or the Agency in writing, or the users of universal telecommunications services via mass media, on the occurrence of circumstances referred to in Article 39, Paragraph  2 hereof,

12. if it fails to ensure equal availability of its services in the public telecommunications network to disabled users of services, in accordance with the provision of Article 42, Paragraph 1 hereof,

13. if it fails to ensure to the users of its services appropriate protection from abuse and fraud in the public telecommunications network, in accordance  with the provision of Article 42, Paragraph 2 hereof,

14. if it concludes a written contract with a subscriber contrary to the provisions of Article 43, Paragraph 3 hereof,

15. if it introduces a new telecommunications service contrary to the provisions of Article 43, Paragraph 4 hereof,

16. if it fails to carry out the procedure of temporary or permanent disconnection of subscriber terminal equipment in accordance with the provisions of Article 45 hereof,

17. if it fails to ensure to the subscribers a simple and free-of-charge barring of certain types of outgoing calls, i.e. calls to certain numbers of groups of numbers, in accordance with the provisions of Article 46 hereof,

18. if it fails to ensure to the subscribers a simple and free-of-charge prevention of automatic diverting of calls, or fails to ensure a simple and free-of-charge diverting of calls in accordance with the provisions of Article 47 hereof,

19. if it fails to organise or fails to update a public subscriber directory, or fails to provide a directory enquiry service on subscriber numbers, or fails to meet reasonable requests for access to subscriber data submitted by the users of services or persons registered for providing directory enquiry service on subscriber numbers, or fails to treat the subscriber personal data in accordance with the provisions of Article 48 hereof,

20. if it fails to report prescribed data on basic stations to the Agency, or fails to submit the prescribed report about performed radio measurements, or fails to obtain a prescribed Security Certificate in accordance with the provisions of Article 85 hereof,

21. if it uses a radio station without the performed technical inspection in accordance with the provision of Article 86, Paragraph 6 hereof,

22. if it fails to obtain the general license referred to in Article 87, Paragraph 1 hereof,

23. if, during the sale of a radio station, it fails to issue a copy of the related general license in accordance with the provision of Article 87, Paragraph  3 hereof,

24. if it fails to undertake efficient measures without delay, which prevent further operation of the radio station in accordance with the provisions of Article 91, Paragraph  3 hereof,

25. if it fails to identify the radio station in accordance with the provisions of Article 92 hereof,

26. if, during the placing on the market of radio equipment or telecommunications terminal equipment, it fails to comply with the provisions of Article 99 hereof,

27. if, during putting into service or connecting the radio equipment or telecommunications terminal equipment, it fails to comply with the provisions of Article 100 hereof,

28. if it displays or presents in public radio equipment or telecommunications terminal equipment in the Republic of Croatia, which  does not conform with the essential requirements referred to in Article 98, Paragraph 3 hereof, contrary to the provisions of Article 100, Paragraph 4 hereof ,

29. if it imports, places on the market, puts into service or uses radio equipment or telecommunications terminal equipment which radiates electromagnetic fields the range of which exceeds the allowed values, contrary to the provisions of Article 101 hereof ,

30. if it manufactures, imports, places on the market or uses electrical or other technical equipment which causes electromagnetic disturbances, or does not comply with the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements, in accordance with the provisions of Article 102 hereof,

31. if it fails to enable prevention of the display of the outgoing call identification, or rejection of incoming calls, or prevention of  the display of the connected line identification, in accordance with the provisions of Article 108 hereof,

32. if it fails to process location data without telecommunications traffic  data, in accordance with the provisions of Article 109 hereof.

(2) A person liable to the legal entity shall also be fined for a violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article by a pecuniary fine in an amount ranging from HRK 2,000.00 to 10,000.00.

(3) By way of derogation from the provision referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Article, if the liable person has committed the violation intentionally, he/she will be fined with a pecuniary fine ranging from HRK 5,000.00 to 15,000.00.

(4) If a natural person has committed the violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, he/she will be fined with a pecuniary fine from HRK 1,000.00 to 5,000.00.

(5) For the violation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the protective measure of seizure of a radio station and/or other R&TT equipment may be implemented.

(6) The material gain realized by the violation shall be seized

 

Article 71

A new heading, entitled “Statute of Limitation”, is hereby added above Article 118.

Article 118 is hereby amended and it now reads:

»(1) The misdemeanour proceedings for violation of provisions hereof or the regulations passed pursuant thereto may not be instituted after the expiry of three years from the day of the committed violation.

(2) The statute of limitation referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be interrupted by submitting a request to institute the misdemeanour proceedings, by issuing a misdemeanour order, as well as any other action of an authorized body undertaken for the purpose of prosecution of the offender. After each interruption, the statute of limitation shall be restarted, but the misdemeanour proceedings may in no case be conducted upon the expiry of double the time referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article.

(3) Imposed misdemeanour penalties may not be enforced after the expiry of three years from the day when the misdemeanour decision became final.

(4) The statute of limitation for enforcement of the penalty shall be interrupted by each action of an authorized body undertaken for the purpose of enforcement of the penalty. After each interruption, the statute of limitation shall be restarted, but the penalties may in no case be enforced after the expiry of double the time referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article.«

 

Article 72

The words: »obtain the license« in Article 119, Paragraph 9 are hereby substituted by the words: »submit the request for approval«.

Paragraph 11 is hereby deleted.

 

Article 73

A comma after the words: »general acts« in Article 121, Paragraph 4 is hereby substituted by a full stop, and the words: »and within further 10 days publish a competition for the director of the Agency« are deleted.

The words: »Paragraph 3« in Paragraph 5 are hereby substituted by the words: »Paragraph 4«.

Paragraph 6 is hereby deleted.

Former Paragraph 7 is hereby renumbered as Paragraph 6.

 

Article 74

(1) The Agency's Council shall harmonize the Agency’s Statute and other general acts of the Agency with the provisions hereof, within three months from the day this Act enters into force. 

(2) The Minister shall announce a public tender for appointment of the director of the Agency within 30 days from the day of the entry into force of this Act.

(3) The Minister shall appoint the members of the Council of Users within 60 days from the day this Act enters into force.

(4) The Agency shall set up a database and make it available in accordance with the provisions of Articles 9 and 42 hereof, within six months from the day when this Act enters into force.

 

Article 75

(1) The Minister shall pass regulations that he/she is authorised to pass pursuant to the provisions hereof at the latest within one year from the day when this Act enters into force. 

(2) Before the regulations referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article enter into force, the subordinate legislation regulating the matters concerned shall apply, provided it is not contrary to the provisions hereof.

 

Article 76

The Legislation Committee of the Croatian Parliament is hereby authorised to prepare and publish the consolidated text of the Telecommunications Act.

 

Article 77

This Act shall enter into force on the eighth day from its publication in the Official Gazette.

 

 

Class: 344-03/05-01/01

Zagreb, May 20th, 2005

 

 

THE CROATIAN PARLIAMENT

President

of the Croatian Parliament

Vladimir Šeks, m.p.