Local cable television operators are crying foul and accusing the Government of going through the backdoor in giving the green light to telecommunications company Flow to operate islandwide.
The announcement of the approval was made Tuesday by Information Minister, Donald Buchanan, following Cabinet's final meeting before the General Election.
Cable operators say the deal with Flow lacks transparency.
Additionally they claim it will lead to unfair competition in the industry since Flow has the capacity to become a dominant player.
According to the Jamaica Association of Community Cable Operators, small players are slowly being squeezed out of the industry.
Chairman of the Association, Colin Innis, did not mince words when he spoke with RJR News Tuesday night.
"In all our discourse with the government it has been premised on two wired operators in each zone. And the fact that they have decided to give a third wired license which means that something should have gone to the public so that everybody could have known it was happening not just the cable operators but everybody, my children should have known, every investor in Jamaica should have known that they could have applied and that is what we are upset about, the fact that it was not done in a transparent manner," said Mr. Innis.
He says the members will be meeting to discuss their next move.
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