1. All prospective applicants for STV
licenses are required to satisfy the Commission that they have
| a. |
the ability to adequately staff the business, technically and administratively; |
| b. |
a business plan for the
viable operation of the
business; |
| c. |
the capability to offer
the service for at least eight continuous hours per day; |
| d. |
secured the relevant
permission or have entered into agreements or
arrangements necessary for the operation of the
business; |
| e. |
an implementation plan and
a timetable for the
provision of service in the area for which application
is made; |
| f. |
the capacity to meet the
technical standards set out in the Second Schedule; and |
| g. |
the capacity to offer a
minimum of ten channels to each subscriber. |
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
2. Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
| a. |
Copies of:
- Certificate
of Incorporation
- Articles of
Association
- Memorandum
of Association
- Articles of
Incorporation
|
| b. |
The
prescribed application form |
| c. |
clearly labeled technical
information in keeping with the requirements of the
application form |
| d. |
Jamaica Public Service Co.
Ltd. Application form for Attachment to Utility Poles
Note: Pole maps are not to be included in this
application |
| e. |
Business plan – The
following documents are
required:
- Trading, Profit
and Loss Account
- Projected Balance
Sheet (Years one and two)
- Projected Revenue
Schedule
- Projected Expense
Schedule (Establishment
operating and Administration)
- Projected Cash
Flow Schedule
- Loan Repayment
Schedule
|
|
f. |
An implementation plan and
timetable for the
provision of service in the area(s) for which
application is made |
|
g. |
Certified copy of list of
Directors (Form 23) |
|
h. |
Permits for programming
use:
- Letters of intent
- Properly executed contracts |
RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS
3. As an applicant you are
responsible for ensuring that you submit all the necessary
documents. However, the Commission will verify, on receipt,
that a complete package has been presented. If your
application is missing any documents, the Commission will
immediately advise you what materials need to be provided
before your application can be evaluated. Please note that
at this point the Commission officers only verify
completeness. This is NOT A GUARANTEE that your application
meets the required standards for the Commission's
recommendation that you be granted a licence by the
Minister.FORM OF PRESENTATION
4. Applicants must ensure that
the material submitted is clear and self explanatory.
Applicants should focus their efforts on the specific
requirements as detailed in the Regulations and application
forms and should not submit information not asked for. Where
necessary, documents
and diagrams must be labeled with diagram keys. The
Evaluation Committees will not attempt to guess the meaning
of unmarked and/or ambiguous diagrams and maps. The use of
contrasting colours on diagrams is particularly helpful.
5. Submitted documents should
be collated, in sequence and should be secured firmly e.g.
with staples or bull dog clips. The documents presented
should be labeled and each application package should be
numbered and
parceled separately. A list of documents, or a content list,
should be included in the application package. The
evaluation committees will not attempt to identify pages out
of sequence. The suggested sequence of documents is:
| a. |
list of contents |
| b. |
documents of incorporation |
| c. |
application form with
technical checklist |
| d. |
a business plan |
| e. |
implementation plan |
| f. |
Jamaica Public Service Co.
Ltd Application Form for Attachment to Utility Poles. |
| g. |
All other supporting
documents |
| |
|
| 6.
|
Applicants must ensure
that all information requested on the prescribed forms
is provided, including signatures and certifying stamps
or seals.
|
| 7.
|
Applicants
must ensure that all written instructions in the
regulations and on the Application forms are noted and
followed. |
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
8. Personnel
The Applicant must demonstrate the ability to hire an
adequate number of appropriately trained technical staff.
Applicants should note that the regulations clearly state
that the Licensee shall employ, and keep employed at all
times, a Chief Technical Officer. Applicants are advised
that persons employed as a CTO with one licensee, cannot
hold the same position with any other licensee. Note also
that the application form asks for a list of engineers,
technicians and pole line men on staff, along with their
qualifications. A list of proposed staffing may be submitted
in a separate document, or included in the implementation
plan.
9. Zone Layout
Applicants must clearly define the zone(s) for which they
are applying. The zone layout must show the cable layout
within the zones including the head end location.
10.Block and Signal
Level Diagram
The block and signal level diagram is a critical component
of the technical submission, and it is important that the
diagram be clear, easily understandable, and properly
labeled. The diagram should be clearly annotated with
information to display and depict the following:
| a.
|
Head End. AU parts of this
system must be clearly
labeled, and the annotations should provide explicit,
understandable information on the:
1. frequency and number of channels inserted into
thetrunk system
2. Standard channel band
|
| b.
|
Trunk Cable System. The diagram must show
the
distribution of amplifiers along the cable and the
separation distance between amplifiers. Annotation must
clearly show the:
|
|
1.
size of the cable
2. gain of amplifiers
3. attenuation along the cable
4. input and output signal levels of
trunk amplifiers in dBmV.
|
| c.
|
Feeder cables. The diagram
must show how these
cables split from the trunk cable, the dispersal of
feeder amplifiers, or the extenders along the cable
and the separation distance between amplifiers.
Annotation and/or quantitative notes must clearly
show the:
|
|
1. size of the cable
2. gain of amplifiers
3. attenuation along cable
4. input and output signal levels of distribution amplifier in dBmV
5. dispersal along the feeder cable of taps and multi-taps and the typical distance between them.
|
|
d.
|
Test Drop. The diagram may
demonstrate at least one subscriber residence "drop". The
schematic annotation and notes must clearly provide information
on:
|
|
1. the customer tap
2. the size of flexible drop cable
3. converters and descramblers
(where applicable) |
11. Head-end- Site Plan
This plan view of the head-end location must show the major
buildings and structures within the site, as well as walls,
fences, poles, antenna and other significant structures.
12. Head-end Equipment
Block Diagram
The diagram must show channel allocations and use of
encryption equipment combiners, modulators and other
significant components.
13. Customer Service
Facilities
Customer service facilities such as telecommunications
equipment, service vehicles and decoders for channels
presenting adult programming should be clearly listed.
14. Technical Checklist
The technical checklist is to be filled out, cross checked
with the actual documentation, and signed and stamped with
the company seal.
15. Children’s Code for
Programming
Information on the technology to be used to implement the
Code such as negative traps or addressable system should be
provided. Also, the Commission must be advised which
member/s of staff will be responsible for rating of channels
and coordinating information on channel rating to be
supplied to subscribers.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
16. It is important that
information is arranged in an orderly manner to facilitate an
understanding of the business plan.
17. The financial statements must
be checked for any errors in calculations.
18. All financial information
requested must be submitted.
19. To enable proper
evaluation of applications, it is critical that all
assumptions used in arriving at the projected revenue and
expenses are clearly documented. Assumptions must be
realistic.
20. Financing
It is important that adequate information regarding the
financing of the Company is made available e.g. the amount
of capital the shareholders will inject into the company.
The business plan must show how any possible shortfall will
be met if the capital is not adequate to operate the
business. If the company is to use debt capital, e.g. loans,
to fund the shortfall, the terms of the loans must be
stated, and commitment letters made available.
21. Operating Costs
The operating costs must be clearly outlined and as much
documentation as possible should be presented to support
assumptions made in arriving at the costs. It is important
that the projected costs are consistent with the level of
operation. If the project is to be financed partly by debt
capital, e.g. loans, the projected profit and loss statement
should include the cost of interest and other charges.
NOTE: Allocation should be made for the payment of
annual licence fees which is 5% of all fees received from
subscribers. These costs must include allocation for
expenditure on technology to be used in the implementation
of the Children’s Code for Programming.
22. Revenue
The projected revenue must be consistent with the projected
number of subscribers and assumed rate.
23. Cash Flow
The cash flow proposed in the business plan must be
consistent with expected revenue and projected expenses. It
must also incorporate all loan proceeds and repayments (if
any).
24. Profit and Loss
It is important to ensure that all items included as
expenses are genuine expense items. In particular, the
repayment of loan principal cannot be considered as an
expense and therefore should not be included in the expense
items.
25. The Balance Sheet
The figures must be consistent with all other projections
made. For example, if all equipment is not purchased in the
first year of operation, the equipment purchased in
subsequent years should not be included in the first year's
projected balance sheet.
GENERAL SUMMARY
26. It is intended that the
information presented in these guidelines should assist applicants
in fulfilling the criteria required for a complete and easily
understandable application. The substance of the material submitted
should be checked on a point by point basis against the requirements
of the regulations, the application form and these guidelines.
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