TRAI to get more teeth to enforce Regulations

The government proposed to give more powers to telecom and broadcasting regulator Trai to penalise service providers for failing to comply with rules and regulations.

The telecom ministry, in an inter-ministerial consultation, has said “jurisdiction to impose penalties through a transparent process for default in compliance with its orders and regulations as well as for non-observance of terms and conditions of licence is proposed to be vested in Trai”, a PTI release said.

While the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has power to regulate and monitor rates, quality and other parameters of telecom and broadcasting services to protect consumer interest, it does not have the power to impose penalties on service providers for failing to adhere to rules.

The regulator has often found telecom operators involved in billing disputes lagged in addressing complaints of subscribers. It, however, has not been able to penalise them.

“It has to file a complaint before a criminal court for adjudication of liabilities. Its ability to enforce its direction and regulation has, thereby, been severely constrained,” the source said.

Another government official said the telecom ministry is almost done with the consultation process. “Only comments from the ministry of information and broadcasting and the Planning Commission are awaited, after which the department of telecom will compile the comments, make draft and send it to the law ministry before placing it before Cabinet,” he said.

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/national-news/item/2697-trai-to-get-more-teeth-to-enforce-regulations.html
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/national-news/item/2697-trai-to-get-more-teeth-to-enforce-regulations.html