Communications Convergence Bill tabled in Lok Sabha

Our eFE Bureau

New Delhi, Aug 31: After months of debate and high-level meetings, the Communications Convergence Bill 2001 was finally tabled in the Lok Sabha on Friday, which was the last day of the monsoon session. The Bill, which was piloted by communications minister Ram Vilas Paswan, is expected to be referred to the standing committee next. Earlier in the week, the Bill had received the Cabinet nod.

While stating that IT-related and e-commerce services will be exempted from licensing requirements, the Bill contains a clause which says that it may specify restrictions regarding ownership and control of the media. The Bill will bring an entire gamut of services under the licensing regime through five licensing categories. The Bill, according to the draft placed in the Parliament, will promote, facilitate and develop in an orderly manner, the carriage and content of communications (including broadcasting, telecommunications and multimedia), for the establishment of an autonomous Commission--Communications Commission of India (CCI). The Bill says: ‘‘The CCI may determine the obligations, conditions, restrictions, tariffs and rates subject to which a service provider shall provide facilities and services...’’ The CCI will regulate carriage of all forms of communications and will also be responsible for establishment of an appellate tribunal. Among its primary objectives, the Commission will strive to develop the communication sector in a competitive environment. It also talks of making communication services affordable. The Bill, though envisages formation of a separate content bureau under the CCI, is hazy on how content will be monitored.