Bahamas | CSIA

URCA (The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority) is the regulatory body in the Bahamas that oversees and regulates the utilities sector, including electricity, water, and telecommunications, ensuring that these services are provided efficiently, fairly, and in the public interest.

URCA Approval refers to the process by which businesses or entities operating within these sectors must obtain approval from URCA for various activities such as:

Licensing

Any new company or operator wishing to enter the utilities or telecommunications sector must be licensed by URCA.

Essentially, URCA's role is to ensure transparency, fairness, and competition in sectors that are critical for the economy and society in the Bahamas. URCA approval helps protect consumers and ensures that companies adhere to established regulations and best practices.

Note that many of the documents in the Bahamas URCA site discuss a “license”. This is something that would be required to operate a product but do not confuse it with the “type approval” of a product. Here is the note from the agency regarding “license”.

The short answer to your question is that all transmitters imported into the Bahamas must be registered (type approval).

However, with respect to Type Approval enquiry, Low Power Devices are considered License Exempt. You can contact CSIA for guidance on the licensing regime under the Comms Act, 2009, section 3.3 which deals with Low Power Device exemptions.

Therefore, Homologation (Type Approval) is not legally required for cell phone products in Bahamas, but the provider operating in The Bahamas must be a Licensed Provider. Sections 16; 17 & 18 The Bahamas Official Gazette The Bahamas (Act.2009).

URCA type approval in The Bahamas requires acceptable FCC reports.

No local representative is required.
No local certificate holder is required.
Lead time is approximately 3-4 weeks from the time all documents have been collected.
Certificate is valid indefinitely.

Rate Approvals

Utilities seeking to adjust their service rates, fees, or tariffs must get URCA’s approval to ensure that the changes are reasonable and in line with regulatory standards.

Equipment requiring type approval include, but are not limited to:

Only car radios with RF transmitters, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies.
Cordless phones
Fax machines
GSM telephones
Mobile radios
Modems
Wireless remote devices
PABXs (including small business systems and key systems)

Compliance and Operations

Operators must ensure they meet URCA's standards for service quality, operational practices, and pricing. Approval may be required for certain operational changes or business plans.

Market Entry

For new market entrants in the telecommunications or energy sectors, URCA ensures that competition is fair, and that monopolistic practices are avoided.

Bahamas URCA label requirements:

Low Power Devices entering The Bahamas must be clearly marked showing the following information:

The manufacturer’s Name;
Model, Type Number;
Serial Number; and
Approval Number (i.e., the FCC’s Equipment Grant identifier).

Frequencies Allowed in the Bahamas

The 900 MHz frequency band is generally allowed for use in the Bahamas, as it is considered a standard radio frequency band used for various communication purposes.

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Contact CSIA for a more detailed list of frequencies allowed in the Bahamas.

Regulatory Updates For The Bahamas

August 2024

The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”) is pleased to announce the publication of its Consultation Document on the Roadmap to enable 5G deployment in The Bahamas (“the Consultation Document”). URCA believes that the Consultation Document represents a significant step towards the introduction of advanced broadband connectivity in The Bahamas, paving the way for enhanced electronic communications services and social and economic growth.

November 2019

Bahamas Removes Restrictions for Low-Power Device Approval
In the middle of November, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) published Final Determination on the Guidelines for the Type Approval Certificate of Licence‐Exempt Radio Spectrum Devices. This document relates to the type approval process for low-power devices.

The updates to the existing low power device rule in the Bahamas are as follows:

Other test reports, outside of the FCC report can now be used to prove the device meets Bahamas regulations.
The product must operate in compliance with the National Spectrum Plan of the Bahamas
The product must have been tested by any URCA approved Telecommunications Certification Body or TCB
The product must have a unique identification label indicating that the device is authorized by and URCA approved telecommunication regulatory body
The product must only be capable of low power radiation
The product must only be capable of transmitting signals over short distances