Introduction to the New Telecom and Antimonopoly Regulators in Mexico
Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico City, has forwarded a list of ten candidates to the Senate for key positions in the new telecom and antimonopoly regulatory bodies. These changes come under the newly enacted Ley en Materia de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión (LMTR), which mandates that the Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) and the Comisión Nacional Antimonopolio (CNA) will be composed of five commissioners, all proposed by President Sheinbaum.
The Candidates
- Ledénika Mackensie Méndez González: A UNAM graduate in Political and Public Administration, as well as a master’s degree in Public Administration from IPN. She has served as the subdirector of operations for the ATDT communications network.
- María de las Mercedes Olivares Tresgallo: Alumna of the Universidad del Valle de México, she has been a defender of audiences for the Sistema Universitario de Radio, Televisión y Cinematografía at the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro.
- Adán Salazar Garibay: Holds engineering degrees in communications and electronics, along with a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Universidad de Guanajuato.
- Tania Villa: An ITAM graduate in telecommunications engineering with a master’s degree from the Royal Institute of Technology. She previously served as the director general of Spectrum Planning at IFT.
- Norma Solano Rodríguez: A UNAM law graduate and current national coordinator for Digital Transformation at ATDT.
- Andrea Marván Saltiel: Graduate of the Iberoamericana University, with a master’s degree in law from the University of Chicago Love School.
- Ana María Reséndiz Mora: UNAM economics graduate with a master’s degree in economics from the Colegio de México.
- Oscar Alejandro Gómez Romero: UNAM economics graduate with a master’s degree in economics from the Colegio de México.
- Ricardo Salgado Perrilliat: Graduate of Universidad Lasalle with corporate law studies at the Universidad Panamericana.
- Haydeé Soledad Aragón Martínez: UAM sociology graduate with a specialization in sociology from the Colegio de México.
Background and Relevance of the Candidates
Most candidates have strong ties to the Agencia de Transformación Digital y Telecomunicaciones (ATDT), with some having previously served in roles at the Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT). Their proposed positions in CRT and CNA reflect President Sheinbaum’s influence over digital transformation in Mexico.
Senate’s Role and Industry Reactions
The Senate now has the responsibility to review and approve these nominations. Industry sources have expressed confidence in Norma Solano, María de las Mercedes Olivares, and Ledénika Mackensie’s qualifications for the CRT. Meanwhile, industry representatives have positively received Sheinbaum’s proposals for Andrea Marván and Ricardo Salgado Perillat in the CNA.
The Role of CRT and CNA
Under the LMTR, the CRT will oversee telecommunications and broadcasting regulation in Mexico, including spectrum allocation and regulating the radioelectric spectrum. The CNA will tackle antimonopoly issues, ensuring fair competition in the market.
Confirmation Process
President Sheinbaum’s nominees must be ratified by the Senate, where her political allies hold 68% of the votes. This process will determine the new regulators replacing Javier Juárez, Sostenes Díaz, Arturo Robles, and Ramiro Camacho in the IFT.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who proposed these candidates? President Claudia Sheinbaum proposed all ten candidates for the CRT and CNA positions.
- What are the roles of CRT and CNA? The CRT will regulate telecommunications and broadcasting, while the CNA ensures fair competition in the market.
- What is the significance of these changes? These regulatory shifts reflect President Sheinbaum’s digital transformation agenda and aim to modernize Mexico’s telecommunications sector.
- How will the Senate impact these nominations? The Senate must approve President Sheinbaum’s nominees, with her political allies holding a majority of the votes.
