Implications Of A Possible Change Of Telecommunications' Authority In Mexico

On February 5^th, the President of Mexico submitted, for consideration of the Mexican Congress, several initiatives to amend the Mexican Constitution. Among them, the "organic simplification" or extinction of certain autonomous constitutional bodies ("OCAs" for its initials in spanish) in order to pursue republican austerity and avoid duplication of functions (between these and the Federal Executive).

Firstly, it is important to highlight that OCAs are independent from the three branches of government, i.e. they have their own legal personality, as well as budgetary and management autonomy to regulate matters that are considered of greatest relevance to the country. Currently, the regulatory authority for matters related to telecommunications is the OCA known as the Federal Telecommunications Institute ("IFT" for its initials in spanish). Previously, however, the telecommunications sector was regulated by the Federal Telecommunications Commission, a decentralized