CUTS Proposes Reviewing Compliance and Regulatory Measures in its Telecom Budget Recommendations

CUTS Proposes Reviewing Compliance and Regulatory Measures in its Telecom Budget Recommendations
To streamline and enhance the efficiency of the telecom sector, CUTS International (Consumer Unity and Trust Society), a research and advocacy organisation, has put forth a series of budget recommendations. Pradeep Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International, outlined these recommendations, emphasising the need for transparency, accountability, and consumer-centric policies within the telecom industry.

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The key points of the recommendations are as follows:

Efficient Utilisation of Funds: CUTS International proposes the establishment of a strategy to ensure the efficient, transparent, and timely use of the Universal Service Obligation Fund, which has been renamed as Digital Bharat Nidhi in the new telecom law. The organisation urges fixing accountability for any delays or misuse of these funds and suggests involving citizens’ representatives in determining and overseeing the usage.

Adoption of Allocation Recommendations: CUTS suggests adopting the recommendations of the Ashok Chawla committee on the allocation of natural resources, particularly spectrum allocation. This move aims to provide clear guidance to the executive for the operationalisation of allocation-related provisions under the telecom law.

Safeguards Against Executive Discretion: To address concerns regarding the unchecked discretion of the executive under telecom and related laws, CUTS International recommends designing substantive and procedural safeguards. These measures would ensure that powers such as search, seizure, and confiscation are exercised responsibly.

Consultative Rule Framing: CUTS International advocates for the consultative framing of rules under the telecom law. They stress the importance of conducting thorough analyses of costs and benefits for different stakeholders, with a particular focus on avoiding inconvenience and unintended costs for consumers.