Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.961204130443.455A-100000@fox.ksu.ksu.edu> Date: Wed, 4 Dec 1996 13:08:32 -0600 From: kerry miller <mailto:astingsh@KSU.EDU> Subject: Telecom in India (fwd To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
http://www.asiatimes.com/Urgent call for telecom watchdog New Delhi, A Surya Prakash, Asia Times, 28th November 1996
A 45-member committee of Indian lawmakers has told the federal government that the much-awaited Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) should be in place within the next six months. The authority would supervise and police telecom services across the country.
The multi-party Standing Committee on Communications, which examined the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Bill currently before parliament, favors a far more independent and powerful regulatory authority than that proposed by the United Front coalition government.
The committee, headed by Somnath Chatterjee, a communist lawmaker, has also called for punitive clauses to punish heads of government departments who violate TRAI guidelines. It said a large segment of telecom services would remain with the government in the foreseeable future. It was therefore necessary to hold the head of the offending department responsible, the committee said.
The committee's recommendations are aimed at creating an independent watchdog and a level playing field for public and private companies. And given the composition of parliament and the fact that Chatterjee - a senior leader within the ruling coalition - headed this committee, it will be difficult for the federal government to brush aside its views.
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