The Brazilian Agency of Telecommunications (in Portuguese, Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações - ANATEL) is a special authority created by the general telebommunications law (Act 9472, 16/07/1997) in 1997 and regulated by the decree 2338, 07/10/1997. The agency is administratively independent and financially autonomous, not hierarchically subordinate to any government agency - it's decisions can be contested only in justice. From the Ministry of Communications, Anatel has inherited the powers of granting, regulation and supervision over telecommunications and a great technical experdise and other material assets.