The New Telecom Bill

The law is meant to replace the colonial-era Telegraph Act of 1885 and a clutch of other related laws from before Independence, which have till now been at the heart of telecommunication regulations along with a patchwork of subordinate rules and legislation.

The minister underscored how the legal framework was drawn at a time of technologies that are now obsolete. Today, the difference between a voice call and a data call has disappeared. We have to protect the rights of users who are using services such as FaceTime, WhatsApp and other such services. The process for the new framework will likely be completed in another 6-8 months, the minister said.

The new bill includes a broad new set of definitions for what constitutes a telecommunication, a telecom network and a telecom service. It also creates a licensing framework that is consistent with global approaches, and contains provisions that will allow the government to step in and ensure consumers are not affected if companies face financial distress or are penalised.

The bill is expected to provide for checks and balances and to ensure continuity of already applicable terms will be applicable in particular cases. We should not look at this bill in isolation, it is part of the larger framework including the data protection bill and digital India act.

The bill also proposes that in similar circumstances, the government can also waive off entry fees, license fees or any other fees. This would help the debt-ridden industry to make their case to the government for waiving pending payments. The telecom industry has a cumulative debt of Rs 6 lakh crore and this provision would help in easing off some of that debt.

Now the bill has been circulated for getting public feedback. “Public suggestions have been sought on the bill and it will grow and evolve as we receive them,” the union minister said.

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