Communication in the Bahamas

English dominates in authorities, contracts, portals and communications services; local language variations may occur. No reliably documented alternative official language can be established in the reviewed communications context. Everyday conversations are usually handled informally, while authorities, businesses and providers may require written or digital evidence depending on the case. The electronic communications regulator (Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority), or URCA, regulates the electronic communications sector. This includes fixed-line services, mobile communications, internet, frequencies, telephone numbers, broadcasting and pay-TV services. BTC, Be Aliv and Cable Bahamas Limited are major providers. BTC has a strong position in mobile, fixed-line and fixed-line broadband services in several island markets; Cable Bahamas Limited has this position for high-speed data, pay TV and broadband in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera. Tariffs, network coverage and provider conditions should be checked for the specific island before entering into a contract. The Bahamas use the country and area code 242. Within the country, telephone numbers are dialled as seven digits in the format NXX-XXXX; national long-distance calls use 1-242-NXX-XXXX. International calls are subject to the rules of the destination country. Directory Assistance can be reached at 0. Since 2017, mobile number portability has allowed customers to change providers without losing their telephone number. Anyone operating a network or electronic communications services, or using amateur radio, needs a licence from URCA. Consumer rights arise, among other sources, from the consumer-protection rules (Consumer Protection Regulations) and the service-quality standards (Quality-of-Service Standards). In the event of an outage, incorrect bill or inadequate service, the provider should be contacted first. If the documented internal resolution is unsuccessful, a complaint can be submitted to URCA; possible subjects include billing, maintenance, contracts, misleading advertising, speed and service quality. The URCA procedure includes deadlines that should be checked directly in the current form or with URCA. The national postal service (Bahamas Postal Service) offers letters, parcels, shipping, tracking, business collection, and air and sea freight. Its services include domestic and international shipments. The postal rate guide (Postal Rate Book) lists tariffs that depend on the service, weight and destination. Fast postal connections between Nassau and Freeport are available through a post-office-box system. Costs, collection and delivery times may vary depending on the service, island, destination, weather and contracted shipping company. Under the electronic communications law (Electronic Communications and Transactions Act), electronic communications, electronic signatures and electronic contracts may have legal effect. However, no one has to accept electronic communication, an electronic signature or an electronic contract. For consumers, electronic fulfilment of a statutory writing requirement requires express consent, which may be withdrawn. Exceptions include, among other things, wills and trusts, transfers of land, certain court documents and enduring powers of attorney. Originals, retention, evidence and receipt must be checked separately depending on the transaction. Government of The Bahamas portals, digital-services support (DICT) and the digital services portal (MyGateway) are available for digital government services. MyGateway bundles digital applications and services as well as the Centralized Collections Centre. The helpdesk is available Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 24:00 and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 17:00 at 242-604-4357, toll-free at 242-300-5717 or by email at mygateway@bahamas.gov.bs. DICT can be reached at 242-322-4151 and support@bahamas.gov.bs. For specific matters, the responsible ministry or, for matters on the Family Islands, the Family Islands administration (Family Island Administration) may also be responsible. The data-protection authority (Data Protection Commissioner) oversees data protection under the personal-data protection law (Data Protection (Privacy of Personal Information) Act 2003). For a data-protection complaint, the affected organisation or its Data Protection Officer should be contacted first. If the problem remains unresolved, a written, confidential complaint can be submitted to the Commissioner; an acknowledgement is normally issued within three working days. The Commissioner cannot order compensation, so monetary compensation may have to be claimed in court. The 2014 law on equal opportunities for persons with disabilities protects access to accessible information and communications technology as well as assistive or adaptive devices. The disability-rights commission (National Commission for Persons with Disabilities) has statutory responsibility for this area. Government ICT policy includes alternative accessible formats and accessible emergency communication. The website of the accessibility authority (DRM Authority) states the goal of WCAG 2.1 AA and addresses, among other things, alternative text, keyboard and screen-reader access, plain language, large print, Braille and sign-language interpretation. The Accessibility Statement specifies a response target of five working days. A uniform nationwide relay service is not confirmed in the reviewed information. The emergency number for police and fire services is 911, and the number for ambulance services is 919. Authorities may distribute emergency and disaster information by telephone, internet and, where applicable, broadcasting. A nationwide rollout of the National Alert Warning System cannot be inferred from the reviewed information; a URCA source describes a consultation from 2023. In the event of an outage, more than one communication channel should therefore be used. Different routes apply depending on the problem: informal clarification and written documentation in everyday matters, the provider and then URCA for telecommunications, the organisation or data-protection officer and then the Data Protection Commissioner for data protection, and the portal helpdesk or responsible authority for digital government problems.