PART I 49 Regulatory Authorities  Prior to March 1, 2006, we were under the supervision of the Ministry of Transportation and  Communications and the Directorate General of Telecommunications. On March 1, 2006, the National  Communications Commission was formed in accordance with the National Communications Commission  Organization Law, or the Organization Law, which was intended to transfer regulatory authority over the Taiwan  telecommunications industry from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Directorate  General of Telecommunications to the National Communications Commission. The National Communications  Commission was comprised of nine commissioners who were recommended by the government and opposition  political parties in the Legislative Yuan, as well as recommended by the Executive Yuan and approved by the  Legislative Yuan. However, the Executive Yuan considered the composition of the National Communications  Commission unconstitutional and petitioned the Grand Justices of the Republic of China, or the Grand Justices,  to interpret the constitutionality of the formation of the National Communications Commission and the  procedure for nominating commissioners to serve on the National Communications Commission. On July 21,  2006, the Grand Justices rendered an interpretation and held that the relevant provisions under the Organization  Law as to the nomination procedures for the commissioners of the National Communications Commission  were unconstitutional. However, the Grand Justices granted a grace period allowing such provisions of the  Organization Law to remain in effect until December 31, 2008.  On January 9, 2008, an announcement issued by the President amended the Organization Law, or New  Amendment, amending the unconstitutional formation articles and reducing the total number of commissioners  to seven with a term of four years, but three of the commissioners appointed after the New Amendment are with  a term of two years. The commissioners will be nominated by the premier of the Executive Yuan and approved  and appointed by the Legislative Yuan.  The new nomination method under the New Amendment became effective on February 1, 2008 when the  Legislative Yuan started its new term. The nine incumbent commissioners continued to serve until July 31, 2008,  when their terms ended. The premier of the Executive Yuan nominated seven commissioners on July 1, 2008,  and they were approved and appointed by the Legislative Yuan on July 18, 2008. The new commissioners took  office on August 1, 2008. Thereafter, upon the resignation of one commissioner and the expiry of the term for the  three commissioners, four new commissioners were nominated by the premier of the Executive Yuan, approved  and appointed by the Legislative Yuan and began serving as commissioners on August 1, 2010.  In accordance with the National Communications Commission Organization Law, the National  Communications Commission is responsible for:  •  formulating, implementing and interpreting telecommunications laws and regulations;  •  issuing telecommunications licenses and regulating the operation of telecommunications industry  participants;  •  assessing and testing telecommunication systems and equipment;  •  drafting and promulgating technical standards for telecommunications and broadcasting;  •  classifying and censoring the contents of telecommunications and broadcasting;  •  managing telecommunications and media resources in Taiwan;  •  maintaining competition order in the telecommunication and broadcasting industries;  •  governing technical standards in connection with the safety of information communications;  •  managing and facilitating the resolution of disputes pertaining to the Taiwan telecommunications and  broadcasting industries;  •  managing offshore matters relating to Taiwan’s telecommunications and broadcasting industries  including matters of international cooperation; 