DoT seeks greater powers for Trai

Says the regulator should have more teeth for redressal of consumer grievances

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has proposed to tweak the Telecom Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2013 to empower the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). According to DoT, Trai should have the power to lay down a framework on consumer grievance redressal for telecom service providers to follow.

In a note for the Cabinet on the proposed Bill, DoT has also proposed that Trai should have the power to impose penalties on telcos which don't comply with its orders and regulations.

DoT has also proposed parity between Trai and other regulators such as Competition Commission of India, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, and Airport Economic Regulatory Authority in terms of tenure of the chairperson and members.

Earlier, it had proposed to extend the term of the Trai chairperson to five years. The current chairman, Rahul Khullar, was appointed for a three-year term starting May 2012.

The note also proposes higher qualifications for the chairperson and members. It wants 25 years' experience in relevant fields for the chairperson and 20 years for full-time members. It has also proposed that Trai undertake an audit for efficient management of spectrum, except 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.

Another proposal is to let Trai give recommendations to the government for assessment of optimal usage of spectrum allotted to any service provider and what action to be taken in case of under-utilisation.

DoT wants the Bill in the current session of Parliament.

In the National Telecom Policy 2012, the government had said it would review the Trai Act to make the telecom regulator more efficient.

DoT's note was also circulated among ministries and the departments of expenditure, economic affairs, personnel and training, information and broadcasting, information technology, legal affairs and legislative departments, Trai and Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal for their comments. Comments from the ministries will also be placed before the cabinet.

EMPOWERING THE REGULATOR

• Trai can decide action against service providers who under-utilise spectrum
• Trai to have the power to lay down the framework for consumer grievance redressal to be followed by telecom service providers
• Trai to have parity with other regulators in terms of tenure of chairperson, members