In its latest missive to the government, the department of telecommunications (DoT) has pointed out that spectrum management is its domain and it is no mood to cede this authority to either the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) or any other specialised body.
The DoT?s stand was made clear in a presentation made to the empowered group of ministers (eGoM) on 3-G spectrum auction on July 31, which is headed by the finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee.
The DoT?s rejection of any suggestion to hand over spectrum management? auctioning and allocation ?stems from a Trai recommendation in 2007, which said that a specialised body for spectrum management be created, with members from other ministries as well as the industry. While making the recommendation, Trai had said the present command structure towards spectrum management was not proper and this function should be de-linked from DoT and be made more transparent.
The sector regulator had also said globally the practice has been on similar lines. In its presentation to the eGoM, DoT has said that the recommendations of Trai are recommendatory in nature and not mandatory. This means that spectrum management will continue to be handled by the wireless planning and coordination (WPC) wing of the DoT.
In fact, DoT and Trai have long differed on spectrum management. While the regulator has often highlighted that the entire process has not been handled transparently, the DoT has held that it is strengthening the WPC wing. The mobile operators, for whom spectrum is a vital raw material, have held that they be also made party to the entire management of this key resource.
Reacting to the DoT?s rejection of its recommendation that a specialised spectrum management body be created, Trai officials said while it was true that in matters of policymaking the government has the right to reject its suggestion, still any recommendation coming from the ?highest regulatory body? should be considered with seriousness and sufficient reasons should be forwarded not to accept them.
Trai officials said in order to avoid a turf battle, it had suggested a specialised body under the Cabinet secretariat be formed.
As per the division of powers, the Trai is supreme in matters of tariff fixation, while in policy matters the view of the DoT prevails. However, before taking any policy decision, the DoT is bound to seek the recommendations of the Trai.