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NBTC proposes overhaul [Bangkok Post, Thailand](Bangkok Post (Thailand) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 22--The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will propose the cabinet scrap its two committees governing telecoms and broadcasting businesses and allow the board full authority to allocate spectra and make important decisions. The move is in line with the process to amend the Frequency Allocation Act to eliminate impractical sections and ensure transparency, said a source at the regulatory body. The source said NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith has already signed the proposal and will submit it to the cabinet by the end of this month. If the cabinet approves the proposal, it will be passed to the National Legislative Assembly to process into law. NBTC vice-chairman Col Settapong Malisuwan agreed with Mr Takorn because the regulator found several impractical sections after the act came into effect in 2010. The NBTC's current structure is designed by the Frequency Allocation Act's section 35, which dictates it have two committees, one for telecoms and another for broadcasting. The NBTC board has a total of 11 commissioners including the chairman, while both the telecom and broadcasting committees are each composed of five commissioners. Both committees have full authority to approve issues and make important decisions such as allocating spectrum ranges for public and industrial benefit. The NBTC board is responsible for the final approval of resolutions before they are endorsed as regulations. Col Settapong, who is also chairman of the telecom committee, suggested the current committee should downgrade its authority to be just a panel giving suggestions to the NBTC board during the amendment period of the Frequency Allocation Act. He said many sections also need to be amended under the legislative process including the NBTC's management structure, the number of commissioners and the selection process for commissioners. Related search: broadcasting, NBTC ___ (c)2014 the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) Visit the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) at www.bangkokpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |