Military wont' run show at NBTC: chairman
The new chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Air Chief Marshal Thares Punsri, yesterday rejected any public perception that military members of the country's first broadcasting and telecom watchdog would dominat
He said all 11 commissioners had to work seamlessly to make the NBTC function well.
Of the 11, five are military brass and one is a top police official.
The commissioners convened yesterday to choose a chairman - Thares - and then cast secret ballots to select two vice chairmen. They are Colonel Natee Sukonrat, who is expected to oversee the broadcasting committee, and Colonel Settapong Malisuwan for the telecom committee.
The commissioners had reportedly planned to name all three posts, the chairman and vice chairmen, unanimously to show that they could reach a consensus. However, that consensus was not forthcoming on the vice chairmen, so they agreed to hold a vote for them.
The NBTC will replace the National Telecommunications Commission in liberalising the industries and issue new spectrum licences, including for third-generation wireless broadband spectra.
An NBTC source said Thares would focus solely on managing the planned fund for developing the telecom and broadcasting industries for the public benefit. Thares will chair the panel managing the fund, comprising members of state agencies and related experts. The fund will be financed by government seed money and licence fees.
The NBTC will have to finish the telecom and broadcasting master plans and the spectrum table first before it can grant the new spectrum licences.
Lt-General Peerapong Manakit, Pol Colonel Taweesak Ngamsanga, Thawatchai Jittrapanun, and Supinya Klangnarong are expected to sit on the broadcasting committee, while Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn, Prasert Silpipat, Prawit Leesatapornwongsa, and General Sukit Khama-sundara are expected to sit on the telecom committee.
The Senate secretariat is expected to send the commissioners' names to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra next Monday.
The Council of State will convene today to determine how Yingluck should proceed with that list of names.
The Department of Special Investigation has agreed to probe as a special case the complaints alleging that the process of selecting NBTC candidates was unlawful. Thus Yingluck was hesitant to submit the commissioners' names for royal endorsement, and consulted the Council of State on the matter.
