The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has expressed concerns over delay or partial acceptance, and rejection of its recommendations on key subjects by the department of telecommunications (DoT) and ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB).
In its annual report for 2022-23, the regulator said, “many of the important recommendations are still pending for decision/implementation by DoT and MIB which, if implemented, would have significant positive impact on the telecommunication and broadcasting sector.”
Comments from Trai assume significance in the sense that owing to technological advancements and continuous changes in the telecom and broadcasting sector, if decisions are not taken in a reasonable time-frame, the recommendations lose their relevance and that in a way defeats the whole purpose of sending recommendations by Trai. Further, even if the recommendations are accepted, but its implementation takes years, the impact of that also reduces, Trai said.
With regard to the telecom sector, currently recommendations on eight subjects are yet to be accepted by DoT. Recommendations on issues such as privacy, security and ownership of the data, has been pending with DoT since 2018. Besides, recommendations on reforming the guidelines for transfer/Merger of telecom licenses, cloud services, traffic management practices and net neutrality have been pending since 2020, Trai said.
Some of the Trai’s recommendations on satellite earth station gateway, rating of building, promotion of data economy are also pending for action from DoT.
In the information and broadcasting sector, there are 12 such consultations on which Trai awaits feedback on its recommendations. Infact, Trai’s recommendations on restrictions on certain entities from entering the business of broadcasting and distribution of TV channels has been pending for action since 2012. Other important subjects include issues related to digital terrestrial broadcasting and digital radio broadcasting, interoperability of set-top box, community radio stations, among others.
Trai said, there is a need for feedback mechanism through which the ministries can share information about the acceptance/implementation or rejection of its recommendations with detailed reasons.
To create central repository for real-time tracking of status of all recommendations, TRAI said it has developed a Recommendation Status Portal which can be accessed jointly by Trai, DoT and MIB for updating the recommendations made and the details regarding the action taken/status of recommendations.
