Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 14243 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07 1988/08
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1995/04
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM AFFAIRS AA AG ADM ALOW ACOA ARABL ATRN AID AND APER ADANA APEC ADPM ADCO AL AADP AMED AY AORG ASEAN ABUD AROC ABLD AE AO APCS ARF AINF AODE AGAO ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT ANET AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BH BM BTIO BO BE BX BIDEN BC BP BILAT BF BBSR BT BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CD CV CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CT CM CR CONS CW CN CDC CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTRY CBE COM CTR COUNTER CIVS CFED CARSON COPUOS CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CAC CL CACS CAPC
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DOMESTIC DK DOD DA DE DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ECONOMY ELECTIONS ERNG ENERG EK EDEV EPA ENGR ETRC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN EAIDS ECA EDU EINVEFIN EFINECONCS ECOSOC EUREM ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EXIM ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FI FR FAS FOREIGN FTAA FREEDOM FBI FINANCE FAA FJ FTA FARC FAC FAO FINR FDA FM FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GLOBAL GV GH GL GOV GOI GF GTMO GANGS GE GCC GAERC GZ GAZA GY GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HU HILLARY HI HUM HURI HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN INDO ICAO ITRA IPR INMARSAT ID ICRC INTERNAL IIP IRS ILC IO ICJ IEFIN ICTY IQ IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JUS JAMES JOSEPH JOHNNIE JOHN JIMENEZ
KNNP KFLO KDEM KOMC KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KIDE KSTC KICC KIRC KSEO KSAF KIRF KR KNUP KOCI KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KMPI KNUC KPAONZ KHLS KPRP KHDP KHIV KTRD KNAR KWAC KTAO KJUST KTBT KCRCM KNPP KMRS KBTS KHSA KMFO KSCI KAWK KPRV KNNPMNUC KACT KENV KERG KBCT KPWR KO KVIR KFSC KPIR KCFE KX KCOM KAID KTLA KPOA KNDP KVRP KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KREL KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGIT KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LU LA LI LTTE LG LO LH LAB LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE ML MR MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MIL MAPP MTCR MG MD MAR MP MZ MU MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NG NL NU NPT NS NC NA NATIONAL NP NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NE NGO NAS NR NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OPAD ODIP OVIPPRELUNGANU OIE OFDP OSCI OHUM OFFICIALS OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PERL PA PPA PCI PAS PALESTINIAN PROP PREZ PTE POLITICAL PAIGH PO PROG PJUS PMIL PG PGOF PARMS PDOV PSI PREO PTERE PAO PRAM PINO PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNAT POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL RM ROBERT RICE RO RELAM ROOD REGION RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SG SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SC SEN SF SENVSXE SL SAARC SNARIZ STEINBERG SARS SCRS SWE SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TP TW TZ TF TN TC TS TT TK TD TERRORISM TWI TL TV TO TRSY TURKEY TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UNSC UK UNGA UN US USTR UZ USEU UV UG UP UNAUS UNMIK UY UR USPS UNSCR UNHRC UNMIC UNESCO UNCHR USUN UNHCR USGS UNEP USOAS USAID USNC UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VTEG VTIZ VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WS WHO WTO WZ WI WMD WBG WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WFP WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XH XB XU XY XV XD XC XZ XE XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YL YE YMCS
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZL ZJ ZB ZO ZEALAND ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06SANJOSE2750, COSTA RICA'S TELECOM MONOPOLY PREPARES FOR CHANGE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06SANJOSE2750.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06SANJOSE2750 | 2006-12-12 21:52 | 2011-03-21 16:30 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy San Jose

`

    VZCZCXYZ0003
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHSJ #2750/01 3462152
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 122152Z DEC 06
    FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6819
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

` `

    UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002750

    SIPDIS

    WHA/CEN

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: ETRD EINV ECIN ELAB PGOV CS
    SUBJECT: COSTA RICA'S TELECOM MONOPOLY PREPARES FOR CHANGE

    REF: SAN JOSE 2041

    ¶1. SUMMARY. With CAFTA-DR ratification slowly moving forward, and
    telecom competition on the horizon, Costa Rica's telecom monopoly,
    ICE, (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) is making moves to
    modernize under new ICE President, Pedro Pablo Quiros.  The new ICE
    leadership is clearly engaged in strategic preparation for the
    future, spurred to action by the specter of competition.  For
    instance, ICE recently announced that it will invest US$20M to
    install 8,000 new multi-use public pay phones and has started
    offering Wi-Max internet service in selected areas.  ICE also
    recently began offering higher speeds of internet service at about
    half previous prices through its subsidiary internet service
    provider. Meanwhile, to counter union opposition to CAFTA-DR, Quiros
    is by-passing union leadership and meeting directly with rank and
    file members weekly to explain that with recently enacted executive
    decrees and pending legislation, ICE can effectively compete in an
    open market.  END SUMMARY.

    ¶2.  PHONE LINES:  CAFTA-DR requires that Costa Rica open its telecom
    market to competition for wireless service, data transmission and
    internet services when the treaty enters into force.  Breaking up
    part of the government telecom monopoly is arguably the most
    contentious step.  ICE is one of the most popular public
    institutions in Costa Rica for delivering land lines to 65% of homes
    nationwide (at the reportedly low cost of US$8 per month), and plans
    to expand coverage (via public phone) to the remaining (mostly
    low-income) 35% of households, which rely heavily on public phones.
    Currently 400 aging pay phones, many of which are broken, are
    installed in the metropolitan area which has a population of
    approximately two million people.   These old pay phones are being
    replaced by 8,000 new public phones with modern technology that will
    cost about $2,500 per phone and will be installed throughout the
    country.  The new phones will have text messaging and e-mail
    capability and will accept tokens, a new generation of prepaid phone
    cards with computer chips, as well as the older prepaid "Viajera
    199" card.

    ¶3. INTERNET:  According to ICE, in 2003 only 0.6% of Costa Ricans
    had access to the internet.  Now 22% of Costa Ricans have access,
    primarily via offices and internet cafes, although residential
    installations continue to increase.   In the past several months
    ICE's internet subsidiary has announced the availability of faster
    internet speeds at about half previous prices, and recently the
    current monopoly provider began offering Wi-Max service in two
    upscale suburban neighborhoods.  The new ICE leadership is clearly
    engaged in strategic preparation for the future, spurred to action
    by the specter of competition.

    ¶4. MOBILE SERVICE:  ICE's president recently stated that 35% of
    Costa Ricans have mobile phones, up from 3.6% in 2000.  ICE's
    wireless infrastructure is sorely taxed and although there are
    plenty of cell phones for sale in the local market, there are long
    waiting lists to activate service.  An industry source says that the
    tortuous public contracting process is partly at fault.  In December
    2002 ICE issued public tenders for the purchase of 600,000 cell
    phone line (GSM) infrastructure.  Ericsson was the successful bidder
    at US$130 million.  By the time the contract was finally awarded --
    nearly 28 months later -- the technology was already outdated and
    worth only about US$65 million.  ICE thus ended up paying a hefty
    premium for outdated technology as a result of such slow processing.

    ¶5. The same industry source says that additional cell phone
    infrastructure is badly needed.  Because of the lengthy contracting
    process ICE will probably extend the Ericsson contract, purchasing
    more outdated technology, at an increasing premium as the market
    value of the old technology continues to decline.  The industry
    source summed it up aptly: ICE's current contracting process is
    longer than product lifetime.  It is one of the reasons the ICE
    President has on his list of needed reforms, "a more agile and
    efficient contracting process".

    ¶6. LEGISLATION AND DECREES:  Some of the reforms requested by ICE
    President Quiros were included in an executive decree recently
    signed by President Arias.  Others that require legislation are
    included in a bill known as the "Strengthening ICE Law". In that
    bill, in addition to improved contracting authority, ICE is asking
    for more autonomy, the capacity to make investments, and the ability
    to operate internationally and form strategic alliances.  This
    strengthening legislation is an important bargaining chip being used
    to convince the politically strong ICE union to accept breaking its
    monopoly in the wireless and data segments of the market.

    -------
    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶7. LEADERSHIP MATTERS:  ICE President Quiros has proven to be an
    adept choice by President Arias to lead the public telecom agency in
    a time of change. Arias's first selection to head ICE lasted only
    four months.  Quiros's previous ICE and international work
    experience lend him credibility.  He is engaged in a very active
    campaign to convince both internal and external audiences that ICE
    can compete effectively in an open market.  He recently told the
    Charg that he meets weekly with union rank and file, by-passing
    obstinant union leadership, to discuss the changes and opportunities
    that lie ahead.  In addition, he regularly appears in public fora
    where he pitches the same story.  Post expects Quiros to be a very
    effective witness in the upcoming Asamblea hearings on bills to
    strengthen ICE and open the telecom market.

    FRISBIE

`