TRAI urges I&B ministry and DoT for quick action on its recommendations

In its annual report released on Wednesday, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has urged its parent ministries – Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) – to speed up the process of accepting and implementing its recommendations.

Over the last few years, TRAI has sent several recommendations to DoT and MIB on important issues concerning growth of telecommunications services and Broadcasting and Cable Services        in the country either on reference or suo moto.

During the year, TRAI has worked with both DoT and MIB and by concerted efforts, a number of these recommendations have been accepted during the period, the regulator said in its report.

However, 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, TRAI added.

“It is felt that the technological advancements and changes keep on happening in the Telecom and Broadcasting Sector, and if decisions are not taken in a reasonable time-frame, the recommendations lose their relevance defeating the whole purpose of making the Recommendation as envisaged by TRAI,” the report said.

Sometimes the Recommendations are accepted/implemented partially and, according to the regulator, it defeats the very intent envisaged in a comprehensive approach towards a subject while making recommendations. “Further, mere acceptance of recommendations does not help the sector, until they are implemented on ground. If the Recommendations are accepted, but implemented after a lapse of many years, the impact that a particular Recommendation is supposed to make on the sector gets reduced due to this delay,” TRAI said.

The regulator suggested that there is a need for a feedback mechanism through which the ministries may share information with TRAI about the acceptance/implementation or otherwise of TRAI’s recommendations. In cases of non-acceptance/partial acceptance/delay in acceptance, the reasons of rejection/partial acceptance/pendency of TRAI’s recommendations with relevant details needs to be shared with TRAI by the concerned ministry (DoT/MIB).

“This mechanism whereby there is periodic review of implementation of pending recommendations of TRAI in DoT/MIB, will help TRAI in future formulation of policies and regulatory framework,” the regulator said.

In order to speed up the process and to create central repository for real-time tracking of status of all recommendations, TRAI 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.

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