New NBTC bill draws flak from analysts
Academics yesterday voiced concerns on many aspects of a new government bill on the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission, ranging from the selection process for members of the NBTC to the transfer of existing NBTC funds to the upcoming D
Piyabutr Bunaramrueng, a law lecturer at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the bill appeared to limit the NBTC membership to seven, down from 11 currently. Piyabutr commented on the bill yesterday at a public forum hosted by the NBTC’s consumer protection group.
The bill changes the age range for NBTC commissioners from 35-70 years to 45-65 years. Besides specifying their knowledge backgrounds, it requires that the commissioners hold high-ranking posts. Anyone seeking a seat on the NBTC must be the head of a state department, hold a military rank of at least lieutenant-general, or be a former or present deputy CEO with at least three years’ experience in a company with registered capital of at least Bt1 billion.
The existing NBTC law does not specify the rankings of candidates for the commission but mentions only their required backgrounds.
While the current selection process involves many state and private committees, the new bill would reduce this to a single selection panel. It will be made up of six members, comprising the heads of the Constitution Court, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Administrative Court, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Auditor-General, and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Piyabutr said he was concerned about possible conflicts of interest if any of the candidates were involved in litigation and it happened that any of these selection-panel members had to judge them.
Somkiat Tangkitvanich, president of the Thailand Development Research Institute, said he was doubtful whether the bill could affect the financial discipline of the state agencies.
According to the bill, the NBTC’s R&D fund will be transferred to the Digital Economy Fund under oversight of the upcoming National Digital Economy Committee. Somkiat fears this would encourage state agencies to seek money from the committee without a proper budgeting process.
