Radio stations must return spectra by April 2017

The NBTC board yesterday approved the April deadline proposed by the broadcasting committee. 
According to the 2003 broadcasting master plan, all existing radio stations are obliged to return all spectra to the NBTC within five years of the master plan coming into effect. The NBTC will announce the deadline of the spectrum return later, which was announced yesterday as falling on April 2017. 
However, a 105.5FM radio station operated by Bangkok Entertainment or Ch3 TV operator can return the spectra to the NBTC when its concession under MCOT expires on January 31, 2020. 
NBTC vice chairman Natee Sukonrat said that the move for return of the radio spectra is in line with the broadcasting master plan.
The NBTC board yesterday also approved new draft regulations governing the shifting of telecom cables underground. The draft will be effective after it is announced in the Royal Gazette soon.
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tatasith said the new draft would be binding on telecom licence holders hanging telecom lines on poles. The NBTC would shorten its process for seeking permission to 30 days from to days earlier.
Yesterday, the NBTC signed a memorandum of understanding with three agencies including Metropolitan Electricity Authority, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Telecommunications Association of Thailand on collaboration to move telecom lines underground to serve the digital economy society and the plan to make Bangkok the centre of Asean.
NBTC deputy secretary-general Kokij Danchaivichit said that under this MoU, they would jointly shift telecom lines underground next year on two main roads –Ratchaparop Road and Rama I Road.
At the same MoU signing event, six telecom operators – Advance Wireless Network, True Universal Convergence, DTAC TriNet, United Information Highway, Symphony Communication, and ALT Telecom – also signed an Mou among themselves on the plan to move telecom lines underground from Phaholyothin Road to Phya Thai Road.