The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the telecoms and broadcast regulator, has pushed for time-bound implementation of its recommendations on various industry issues, highlighting that fast evolving technology defeats the very purpose of the suggestions made if they gather dust in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Telecoms.

“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,” TRAI said in its report for 2020-21, which was put out Wednesday on its website.

During the year under review, TRAI said, it has worked with both the Department of Telecoms (DoT) and MIB and, by concerted efforts, a number of recommendations have been accepted during the period. However, many of the important recommendations were “still pending for decision/implementation by DoT and MIB”, which, if implemented, would have “significant positive impact” on the telecommunication and broadcasting sectors, it pointed out.

According to the annual report, sometimes the regulator’s recommendations are accepted and implemented “partially”, which, again, “defeats the very intent envisaged in (the) 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 has argued, pitching for time-bound decision on its various recommendations.

Therefore, there was a need for a feedback mechanism through which the ministries may share information with TRAI about the acceptance and implementation or otherwise of TRAI’s recommendations, the regulator said.

In cases of non-acceptance/partial acceptance/delay in acceptance, the reasons of rejection/partial acceptance /pendency of TRAI’s recommendations with relevant details need to be shared with the regulator by the government agencies concerned.

“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,” India’s broadcast and telecom regulator highlighted in its annual report.

Some of the recommendations of the TRAI, related to the broadcasting and cable services sectors, according to the annual report, accepted by the MIB included those on DTH licensing regime; KYC of DTH boxes and platform services offered by DTH operators.

However, TRAI pointed out that several other important recommendations were submitted to the MIB, but were pending a decision as of March, 31, 2021are as below: