NLA expected to amend telecom, broadcast laws by March, NBTC says

He said the ministry and the NBTC expected to make joint proposals to the NLA over the next two months on amendments to frequency, broadcasting, telecommunications and computer-crime laws. Then the assembly is expected to finish revising them by March. An NBTC source said an attempt was being made to amend the law so as to bring the NBTC under the Prime Minister’s Office. It would also have only a single committee, instead of telecom and broadcasting committees like now. 

Takorn said the NLA would also consider defining new qualifications for NBTC commissioners.

He added that according to the preliminary discussions on defining their roles more clearly, the Information and Communications Technology Ministry would be in charge of all state telecom and broadcasting agencies and state operators. These would include the Public Relations Department (PRD) and MCOT. Meanwhile the national telecom and broadcasting regulator would mainly oversee all regulatory and licensing work.

Currently the ICT Ministry does not oversee the PRD and MCOT but only TOT, CAT Telecom and Thailand Post, as well as state satellite concessions.

The ministry is also interested in overseeing the NBTC’s fund for developing the broadcasting and telecom industry. The fund currently stands at Bt27 billion.

The NBTC yesterday submitted the names of its four representatives on the eight-member joint committee between it and the ministry, which will be founded to reduce redundant work between the two authorities and sort out which areas of telecom and broadcasting laws should be amended. The other four committee members will come from the ICT Ministry, and the panel will be chaired by the ministry’s permanent secretary.

Takorn said the ministry and the NBTC would also discuss who would be in charge of suppressing illegal websites.