Writer: Mongkol Bangprapa
Bangkok Post
A senior government minister is calling on the telecoms regulator to press ahead with an auction of third-generation mobile phone licences without waiting for the setting up of a new supervisory body.
PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey yesterday said the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) should move forward with the 3G licence auction without having to wait for the establishment of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
Speaking at a seminar on the future of radio, television and telecommunications, Mr Sathit stressed the need to hold the 3G auction as soon as possible to allow the public greater access to telecommunications services.
The drawn-out 3G auction process was costing the country opportunities for national and economic development, he said.Mr Sathit said the government believed the NTC should have the authority to auction 3G licences. He said efforts should be made to see if it has the legal authority to issue the licences.
The process of awarding the licences has been stalled over legal questions on whether the NTC has the legal authority to issue them.Attorney-General Julasing Wasansing has warned that an NTC auction of the 3G mobile broadband licences would violate the constitution.
The charter states a new frequency allocation law must be in place and a new regulator - the NBTC - must be formed before frequencies can be allocated.
The constitution requires the setting up of the NBTC but the issue is still with parliament. The absence of the NBTC has led to the debate over the authority of the NTC, formed under the earlier 1997 constitution.
Mr Sathit said the government would make sure a bill on broadcast frequency allocations passed the lower house this month and he hoped it could be endorsed by the Senate by April.
The bill would set up the NBTC and its 11 board members. The NBTC will have sole authority in deciding who will be given radio, television and other frequencies now controlled mainly by the armed forces, MCOT and state agencies.
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