TRAI highlights that issues continue to be pending with DoT & MIB

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in its annual report for 2020-21 has urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) to accept and implement its recommendations on a timely basis to have a positive impact on their respective sectors.

The report states:
“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 the concerted efforts, a number of these recommendations have been accepted during the period.

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. With continuous technological advancements and changes happening in sectors, the TRAI recommendations lose their relevance defeating the whole purpose of making the recommendation, when decisions are not taken in a reasonable time-frame,

Sometimes the recommendations are accepted/implemented partially which defeats the very intent envisaged in comprehensive approach toward 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.

Therefore, there is a need for feedback mechanism through which the Ministries 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.

With above objective in view 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.” BCS Bureau