In the case of consumer protection mechanisms, the regional benchmark is undoubtedly Mexico's National Commission for the Protection and Defence of Users of Financial Services (CONDUSEF). These services include the extension and supply of specialized inputs, the telecommunications network, along with infrastructure associated with product distribution and storage, and information systems. In this field, the rural areas of the countries analysed display pronounced gaps, despite the wide coverage of telecommunications in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. This has been achieved through a combination of instruments, both first and second tier, and the operation of guarantee fund arrangements and various specialized trusts.