Creation and status
The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) is an independent authority that was established under the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Act 2000 on 12th October 2000, amended in February 2013 (Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Act 2013).
The GRA is a convergent authority, with competencies over broadcasting, postal services, data protection, satellite coordination, radio communications, electronic communications, networks and services.
The GRA performs its duties under the Communications Act 2006 for the regulation of the electronic communications sector and of the use of the electro-magnetic spectrum and under the Broadcasting Act 2012, incorporating the Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2011 which transposed into Gibraltar law Directive 2010/13/EU.
Organization
Composition of the Board
The GRA is governed by a Board made up of up to five members. The Chairman, who is the Chief Executive Officer, is appointed for a fixed term, currently five years. Three other independent members are appointed for terms of two years.
John Paul Rodriguez, Chairman
Anthony Provasoli, Member
Kieran Power, Member
Francis Lopez, Member
The GRA has a total staff of 23 employees. It is divided into 5 divisions: Broadcasting, Electronic Communications and Postal Services, Information Rights, Operations, and Administration.
Competencies
The GRA, which was established under the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Act in October 2000, is the statutory body responsible for regulating the electronic communications sector in Gibraltar. This includes telecommunications, radio communications and broadcasting transmission. We are the national supervisory and regulatory authority for these sectors in accordance with EU law which has been transposed into national law.
GRA is the statutory body responsible for regulating the electronic communications sector in Gibraltar.
This includes telecommunication (traditional telephone wire, dial up and ADSL internet, mobile operators providing voice and data services, VOIP services) radio communications including fixed wireless services, broadcasting transmission (television and radio), managing the radio spectrum, licensing framework for satellite services.
The GRA’s broadcasting division is responsible for: the granting and enforcement of licences to broadcasters, deal with all regulatory matters especially on broadcasting standards, issue codes of practice, encourage the promotion of media literacy as well as publishing information and advice to consumers, purchasers and other users of broadcasting services in Gibraltar.
Duties & Responsibilities of the Broadcasting Division:
- Issues opinions on draft legislation and may suggest amendments;
- Issues Administrative Notices, Directions to broadcasters;
- Grants and enforces the licences to broadcasters;
- Imposes penalties in cases of breach of licences;
- Deals with complaints and all regulatory matters regarding broadcasting standards;
- Issues codes of practice (right of reply; code on objectivity, impartiality, accuracy and undue prominence; commercial communications code; programme standards code; code on the provision of access services; code for on-demand audiovisual media service providers);
- Encourages the promotion of media literacy;
- Publishes information and advice to consumers, purchasers and other users of broadcasting services.
Contact
Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
2nd Floor, Eurotowers 4
1 Europort Road, Gibraltar
Telephone: (+350) 20074636
Fax: (+350) 20072166