The phone companies say there are as just under three hundred thousand prepaid cellular phones in Belize, and of that, only a very small number are registered. In fact, if you're the owner of a pre-paid phone you might not even know what registration means - and you also might not know that it is - and has been - the law to register your phone.
Now, the government says it is ready to start enforcing section 44 of the Telecommunications Act 2002; a piece of legislation passed almost ten years ago which requires the registration of cellular phones. The registration is mandatory, and cellular users will be given six months, starting October 11th in which to register their cell phones or face disconnection.
As Jim McFadzean found out today at the Telemedia's Church street office, a number of wireless users are already taking advantage of early registration.
Lorena Martinez, Sr. PR Representative - BTL
"Ever since GOB's release on Tuesday we have had customers coming in who are willing and voluntarily coming in to register their numbers."
Jim McFadzean Reporting
The process is quite simple and Martinez says it shouldn't take too much of your time.
Lorena Martinez, Sr. PR Representative - BTL
"It's quite simple actually; it takes less than 5 minutes or 5 minutes top. As is mandated by PUC and GOB we are accepting valid passports, driver's license and Social Security cards and so any of those forms of ID will do and will be accepted during the number registration process."
Jim McFadzean
"And for those people who are not in possession of a valid passport, driver's license or Social Security card, how can they keep a wireless phone?"
Lorena Martinez, Sr. PR Representative - BTL
"That's a tough question. As is mandated by the law, all customers must present a form of ID, so if they are not in possession of that then I am afraid that at this time we won't be able honor that process."
Jim McFadzean
"As it relates to the immigrant population in particular. Will their passports be accepted as one the requirements as a form of identification?"
Lorena Martinez, Sr. PR Representative - BTL
"Certainly all of our CSRs have been instructed that yes international passports for immigrants will be accepted for this process."
An important process says Telemedia's General Manager of Customer Services, Dionne Miranda, who says, "there's a wide range of benefits that come with registering your cell phone, that is, unless you are engaged in illegal activities."
Dionne Miranda, Customer Services Manager - BTL
"Our customers are really enjoying the fact that if you are registered you can call in to our 24 hour a day call center and report that you phone is missing, stolen or lost and you can come back in the office and get that number back. At that point we will suspend your number which means that whatever credits you have on your phone - all redeemable back when you come in to our offices to get your phone reactivated again."
Jim McFadzean
"So not registering that phone within the timeline that's been mandated by the government would mean that that customer would incur cost to get it reactivated?"
Dionne Miranda, Customer Services Manager - BTL
"And may not be able to get back that same phone number, so that would be a loss to them. Another benefit that I didn't mention before is that Telemedia has a telephone directory, so if you register you SIM you also get the choice of deciding if you want to be in the telephone directory or not and that is a great advantage to small entrepreneurs who little businesses - they can have their number listed in the phone book, or if somebody lose their SIM, have it lost, or if they decide that they want to sell it at a pawn shop for instance, make sure that you unregister it out of your name because if it is going to be in the hands of somebody else it would be best if you are not left responsible with that."
Jim McFadzean
"Dionne, what happens to the consumer who doesn't take advantage of this 6 months' timeline to get their phone registered. What are the penalties?"
Dionne Miranda, Customer Services Manager - BTL
"The government may indicate to us that they would want us to maybe extend the grace period like they have done with the tinting law but the reality is that once directed by the Government of Belize we will then disconnect all of those numbers."
Jim McFadzean
"After that disconnection will there be a penalty for someone who still wants to register that phone even after the deadline. What happens as a result?"
Dionne Miranda, Customer Services Manager - BTL
"You would not be able to register a phone that doesn't exists any longer because we have disconnected it has been taken out of our switch completely, so it no longer exists, so I am saying that Telemedia may not be any to find back those numbers for the customers but it is very difficult because it has to be put back into a pool."
The government in its release issued Tuesday of this week says the measure is intended to allow for the recovery of cellular numbers, eliminate cellular phone theft, and assist law enforcement in detecting, investigating and prosecuting crimes that involve the use of cellular phones. The registration is free of cost.
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