Govt proposes 5-year term for TRAI chairperson

The Government has recently made a proposal to extend the term of the chairperson of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to five years.

According to recent proposal, the chairperson and every other member shall hold office as such for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office and shall be eligible for reappointment.

The proposal came as part of the plan to amend the TRAI Act. Current chairman of TRAI Rahul Khullar was appointed for a three-year term starting May 2012.

The Competition Act and Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDA) Act have a specific provision mentioning eligibility for re-appointment.

But, in Electricity Act, Airport Economic Regulatory Authority Act and Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, there is a specific provision making a person who has been chairperson or member ineligible for re-appointment.

It is also proposed that the authority may engage industry experts to assist it if the authority needs it. However, the appointment should not exceed a five-year term.

It is also proposed that TRAI may undertake spectrum audit for efficient management of spectrum, excluding the airwaves used by Defence and security agencies. With the proposed amendment, TRAI will have the power to penalise companies in case of inefficient or under utilisation of spectrum.

TRAI may also recommend methods of allocation to encourage efficient utilisation of spectrum taking into account latest technology advances.

The proposed amendment of the TRAI Act also includes provision for punishment for furnishing false reports, information or documents.

In the National Telecom Policy 2012, the Government has indicated it would review the TARI Act to enable the telecom regulator resolving regulatory uncertainties quicker and perform faster.