The report is ready for the first debate on the urgent project for digital and audiovisual transformation

With eight votes in favour, the Economic Development Commission approved the report for the first debate of the organic bill for the digital and audiovisual transformation sent by the Executive as urgent economic.

This project modifies seven different legal bodies and its articles are divided into three books related to the development of digital infrastructure in the public and private sectors, audiovisual production and digital transformation processes.

Telematic notarial services are discussed in the urgent law on digital and audiovisual transformation

The document was reported to the president of the Assembly, Virgilio Saquicela, who hopes to include the issue on the agenda until Tuesday. Although the deadline to approve this project, in two debates, expires on December 23, the legislators aspire to approve it until Sunday, December 18.

During the debate, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Pablo Arosemena, stressed that the project will generate multiple benefits in terms of attracting new investment and that digitization will contribute to social inclusion.

Audiovisual production

Although the specialists in the field of audiovisual production highlighted the process of the project, they proposed the incorporation of a text on a mechanism to encourage investment in audiovisual matters developed in Colombia and which has been very successful in other countries.

In the debate, the president of the Development Commission, Daniel Noboa, raised the incorporation of the audiovisual investment certificate.

This establishes that companies producing audiovisual works that are fully or partially co-produced within Ecuadorian territory and that meet the requirements established in this Law and in the Regulations may request an audiovisual production certificate from the competent authority for the costs and expenses incurred in Ecuador.

The audiovisual production certificate will grant companies, as a tax credit, a consideration equivalent to 40% of the value of the investment and expenses actually made for film services contracted with Ecuadorian film service companies and 20% of the value of hotel, food and transportation expenses.

This tax credit may be negotiated with natural or legal persons who file income tax in Ecuador. The income obtained by the foreign producer from the transfer of the certificate does not constitute tax income for him in Ecuador.

Contents

• The project under discussion establishes the mechanism of community networks to improve connectivity in areas of difficult access and a change to the regime of the radioelectric spectrum in order to make it viable.
• Tax exemptions are proposed for companies dedicated to the development of renewable and sustainable energy sources, aimed at energy transformation.
• The Commercial Code is reformed to regulate the existence, commercialization, circulation and execution of dematerialized and electronic documents.
• It is proposed to modernize the notarial activity through the facilitation of certain proceedings.
• Notaries are forced to use digital resources and barriers imposed by cantonal jurisdictions are eliminated, as well as outdated solemnities that hinder commercial activity.
• Court appointments are allowed to be made through email addresses to dispense with the face-to-face summons mechanism in those cases in which it is possible.
• The hearings may also be held by videoconference or other telematic means, the judge will deny the telematic appearance only when the imperative need for it to be in person is justified.
• Within a maximum period of 90 days, the Council of the Judiciary must implement the computer systems that are necessary for the correct and immediate application of electronic files.
• The Ministry of Education will have a maximum period of 90 days to issue or update the regulations related to the virtual development of classes in schools and colleges.
• The registry activity in Ecuador is standardized and uniform, since its administration has generated countless inconveniences to the activity in the country, violating rights as diverse as private property, identity and free contracting. (YO)