PANAMA CITY, PANAMA - (September 25, 2002) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) awarded a $280,000 grant yesterday to the Ente Regulador de los Servicios Públicos (Ente) for technical assistance on a framework for the migration from analog to digital television and radio broadcasting in Panama, and on appropriate oversight during the migration process. The Acting Deputy Chief of Mission to Panama, Mr. Donald Terpstra, represented TDA at the signing ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy. Mr. Alex Arroyo, Director Presidente of Ente, signed the agreement on behalf of the Grantee.

At present, only a minimal legal/regulatory framework for the migration is in place in Panama. It specifies that the migration will take place over a ten-year period, during which time current concessionaires will receive free use of one digital channel for each analog channel on which they are presently broadcasting. The framework statutes also assign responsibility to Ente for establishing the standards, procedures and practices for carrying out the migration. The TDA-funded technical assistance will help Ente to provide necessary guidance to the Panamanian broadcast industry on the migration.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential. By funding various forms of technical assistance, training grants, feasibility studies, conferences, orientation visits, and business workshops, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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