Nicron #80 19 марта 1998

Information - The Moscow City Duma on the introduction of hourly pay for telephone calls.

Inexhaustible subject ... (2)
                or
    "Povremenka - mazday"
      once again ...


(R) WLODEK BLACK

Hello!
Now seem to be able to give to NICRON pretty teeth on nauseam
question "inexhaustible theme of" at least some concrete 
answer. He is based on documentary material from various 
sources, links to which are given in the text. In particular, 
the Moscow City Duma has adopted a Statement directed against 
povremenki (quote from a document published below).

As a brief summary can only say that it is necessary to wait 
for the completion of the audit of MGTS ozhidamoy in late May, 
and only re-actively raise the issue. Highlighting other ways, 
made in the texts cited below, are made by me - WB. 

            - -
03/16/1998.:
--------
OVREMENKA

  (Some of the information, documents and links on the 
introduction of hourly pay for local telephone calls)


 What's the matter

   The Moscow City Government at the suggestion of the Moscow 
City Telephone Network (MGTS) is considering introducing in 
Moscow hourly pay for local calls. Since

telephone is considered a natural monopoly, tariffs on its
Services establishes State. According to the deputy chairman of 
the State Committee H. Marder, povremenka already been 
introduced in more than 30 regions Russia and the population is 
welcome. According to the population itself it takes povremenku 
not so unanimous. Now the situation is a: a proposal to 
introduce MGTS povremenku from 1 July 1998, and Trial account 
to send, respectively, from April 1, eriey rejected a 
commission charged on the end of the first half of 1998 
g.izuchit validity of proposals and MGTS Mayor's Office to 
submit an opinion. In late February, Luzhkov said that a 
preliminary study of the state of affairs in MGTS suggests that 
the tariff increase is not necessary If it turns out that MGTS 
incurs losses, Moscow will cover them from its budget on 
povremenku introduce in the near future will Unfortunately, 
verbatim quotations were found. March 11 Interfax gave the 
words of CEO MGTS Vladimir Lagutin, that This year, MGTS will 
most likely not enter povremenku because Commission of the 
Moscow government will decide in May. The delay in the 
introduction povremenki "would only affect the reduction level 
of profitability to 32% compared with 41.6% in 1997 " 
(Newspaper Segodnya, 12 March 1998). Correspondent as "Russian 
Telegraph "report with the same press conference that this 
decline in profits has nothing to do povremenke and stems due 
to increased volumes of capital investments. In any case, 
time-based board will take no sooner than three months after 
the start Distribution of "test accounts" that do not require 
payment. Such requirement of the Rules of providing telephone 
services, approved Government of Russia on Sept. 26, 1997.


AKONODATELSTVO

  Federal Law "On natural monopolies" (147-FZ of 17
August 1995) classifies electricity and public services
postal services to natural monopolies. Allowed 2 methods
regulation: the establishment of tariffs and the definition of 
consumer subject to compulsory care. State controls

deal with the assets of natural monopolies. Making bodies
regulation of natural monopolies, contrary to that
law may be appealed in court, and filing a declaration
Court suspends the execution of the decision (order) of the body
regulation of natural monopolies to the court decision
into force. The list of communications services, which shall
state regulation of prices (tariffs) - approved
Government Decree N793 dated August 7, 1995 (Amendment
3 August 1996 and 7 March 1997). In line with rates for
telephone (except long distance calls to cost
organizations) are regulated by regional bodies of executive
power. Main provisions of state regulation
tariffs for public telecommunications to
federal and regional levels approved by the Decree
Government N265 dated March 7, 1997. Regulation should
engage FSEMS and its regional offices, and for the period prior 
to their creation - the executive authorities of the Federation.

Tariffs for the population must be fully offset the costs, and
rural rates should not exceed the city. At hourly
Registered tariffs differentiated by time of day. Decision on
establishing the tariffs approved by the head of the regulatory
body (ie, before the creation of regional bodies FSEMS -
governor / mayor), and in case of disagreement - is transferred 
to the FSEMS. Purpose of tariff policy changes outlined by the 
decree RF President N221 dated 28 February 1995 "On measures to 
regulate state regulation of prices (tariffs) (changed 
08/07/1995) and identified by the Government on measures to 
reduce cross-subsidization of consumers of individual services

communication "N950, dated 13 August 1996. FSEMS charged with 
developing proposals with a view to convergence rates for 
different categories consumers and reduce subsidies to the 
population of by the industrial sector. Goal - the full cost of 
vzmeschenie providing services to the population (except for 
rural telephone communication and universal postal services). 
Regional authorities encouraged to move in that direction. Plan

measures to phase out cross subsidies
a natural monopoly industries approved by the Decree
Government N389, dated 3 April 1997. It says nothing
on telecommunications, but only about rail transport and
Energy. All references to laws and regulations are in
base, "Your right."

ERSPEKTIVY

  If one set of documents, which managed to find full - then
it turns out that no legislation does not require that
transition to the breakeven point occurs precisely by keeping
povremenki. The alternative, according to MGTS - increasing 
subscriber fees for all 20 to the level of cost - 0 of 
thousands of MGTS prefers povremenku with the future ("it's on 
tomorrow day after tomorrow. That's when the effective demand 
grows population, when they will be affordable for the 
Internet, that's when ... and povremenka already have, you 
know? "- from the transcript), and if the Mayor's Office she 
refuses this, it is theoretically able to appeal to FSEMS, 
while the latter actively welcomes povremenku. Although City 
Hall has their ways of influencing MGTS (for example, to 
understand why tenants collectors are paying for rent MGTSu, not

city) and is likely to MGTS mayor will not complain.
Moscow City Duma is likely to be only a moral influence
process, because law applies to federal rate regulation
management. On the Internet, and FIDO several independent
other groups of waging a campaign of protest. Forms - meetings, 
gathering signatures, letters to the court, requests for help 
to the antitrust bodies, Luzhkov, Nemtsov, audit requirements 
and the creation of MGTS various public commissions in the 
government of Moscow and Russia.


 Do unto others

  In many regions of Russia (including some parts of Moscow
area) povremenka already introduced. By the way, the Moscow 
Regional SA "Telecommunications' plan to privatize in 1998.

Deputy Minister of State Property A. Braverman is on this 
occasion confidence that this time (in contrast to previous)

State did not sell too cheap. From Khabarovsk, said Denis
Poplawski: 27 February [1998] of the Legislative Duma of 
Khabarovsk Region adopted a resolution on the recommendations 
of parliamentary hearings on the introduction of the province 
time payment for telephone negotiations. Introduced on 30 
December last year, the system provides for standard use of 
telephone calls in the amount of subscription fee for 
organizations up to 480 minutes and up to 300 minutes - for the 
population. Subscription fee - for the population - 40 rubles 
for organizations - 168 rubles. Excess minute call charged at a 
rate of 20 cents. The deputies saw contradiction in the 
solution of a boundary commission rates in the region 
telecommunications legislation in force. Duma proposed to 
cancel these decisions and to compensate subscribers costs 
incurred in connection with the introduction of time-based fees 
telephone conversations. 

Source:
http://www.cityline.ru/politika/media/telefon.html
Date of last update - 16 March.


            OPERATIVNAYA INFORMATION

    the outcome of the meetings of the Moscow City Duma
              March 11, 1998
+---------------------------------------+--------- 
-------------+ | The Question of s | Election Results |

+---------------------------------------+--------- 
-------------+ | | |

| MISCELLANEOUS | |
| | |
| - Statement of MHD on the introduction of non-| |
| Denia time payment of telephone | |
| Talks in Moscow "| |
| | |
| Project submitted 04.03.98 | |
| MP Solovyov, KS | |
| Home review - 04/03/1998. | |
| Responsible of the organizational department - | |
| Sivogrivova AA | |
| A vote | |
| Adopting a basis | |
| Project Statements MHD | The decision |
| Amendments to | |
| Up to 11.00 per hour. March 14, 1998 | |
| Dep. Solovyov, KS | |
+---------------------------------------+--------- 
-------------+