Lawmakers have approved the General Telecommunications Law, the sixth and most controversial piece of legislation required to implement the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

The legislation promises to open the country's telecommunications industry to foreign companies to compete with the state-run Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE), currently the only player on the field.

Yesterday, the Legislative Assembly green-lighted the law, slated to undergo a second and final debate in coming weeks, with 55 of 57 members of the assembly present, voting 36-19 in favor.

Backing the bill was the “alliance of 38,” a cross-party bloc composed of the ruling National Liberation Party (PLN), the Libertarian Movement, Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) and several independent legislators.

Seventeen legislators of the Citizen Action Party (PAC), the main opposition group, and two independents voted against it.

Eleven  bills need approval before CAFTA, which was passed in an Oct. 7 referendum, can go into force.

-ACAN-EFE