4. Protection of consumer interests

Among the duties of ICP-ANACOM set out in the statutes, priority is given to those whose goal is to protect the interests of consumers, particularly users of universal service. This is pursued in co-ordination with the appropriate entities and specifically aims to: foster clarification of consumers and disclosure of the information inherent to the public use of communications, including the regulatory framework in effect and ICP-ANACOM?s powers and initiatives, as well as the rights and obligations of communications operators and consumers; watch over the application and supervision of compliance with applicable laws, regulations and technical requirements, and the communications operators? fulfilment of the provisions in their respective titles to exercise activity or concession contracts.

Indeed, all regulatory activity has the ultimate purpose of promoting consumer interests, specifically by encouraging competition. Hence the defence and protection of their interests crosses all areas of ICP-ANACOM?s intervention, influencing the different decisions made. 

To achieve this end, several mechanisms were used to protect consumer interests in 2002.