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President announces rural telecoms development fund [TeleGeography CommsUpdate](TeleGeography CommsUpdate Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa has confirmed plans to create a fund for the development of telecommunications in rural areas, indicating that funding will be linked to plans to increase the amount taken from mobile operators' profits by the government. In a presidential communication on Saturday quoted on the website of telecoms ministry Mintel, Correa said the planned fund will emphasise promoting rural communities' access to telephony and developing the ongoing Community Info-centres programme and computer access schemes which provide internet access to all citizens especially those on low incomes. The President affirmed that he has sent to the National Assembly a draft amendment to the Telecommunications Act which would give the state a direct 12% slice of the profits of mobile operators, while a 3% slice would be distributed to the telecoms companies' workers and their families. (c) 2014 PriMetrica, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |