a. Network Equal Access This Policy supports the notion that all customers shall be afforded equal access to all competing service providers in a market. This means that customers should have the opportunity to choose among the services of all competing providers, without cost penalties or unduly burdensome technical barriers. The cost of providing equal access will be shared on a non-discriminatory basis by all competitors. b. Anti-Competitive Behaviors The policy supports the authority of the LTA in determining the human and financial resources required in the effective application of competition policies. The objective of competition policy is the establishment of a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory telecommunications market environment. The policy supports the general framework for the functions and responsibilities of the LTA, and of licensed operators, in achieving effective competition. Based on the Telecommunications ACT of 2007 and this Policy, the LTA has the authority to define specific procedures, rules, regulations and administrative structure to ensure that competition policy is effective. c. Dominant Service Providers The LTA shall define regulations to establish dominant service providers and what constitutes Significant Market Power (SMP) based on market shares, control of infrastructure, technological advantages, absence of competition, privileged access to financial resources, bundling of services/products, economies of scale, scope of vertical and/or horizontal integration, distribution network(s) links with other markets and collusion issues, among other factors. d. Tariffs The policy recognizes the basic economic theory that prices for services are best set by the market where there is fair competition. Where there is weak competition or the presence of SMP, the LTA shall adopt methods and tariff regulations that are consistent with the Telecommunications Act of 2007 and international best practice, including, but not limited to, price cap regulation, rate-rebalancing and other forms of cost-based regulation. Tariffs for public telephone services shall be based on the duration of the call and the actual connection time. The LTA shall implement procedures that establish official call duration and billing requirements. This Policy supports the requirement that a completed call must be billed to the actual second. The tariffs and tariff related information filed and approved by the LTA shall be published and made available to the general public. The policy supports a consultative process between the LTA and the Operators before adopting any new methods of tariff regulations. 3.5 Quality of Service (QoS) The LTA shall ensure that the telecommunications services of licensed operators are of adequate quality to meet the needs of users, and shall establish standards and regulations to monitor service quality. 24