Lok Sabha approves Telecom Bill 2023. Key things to know
Most of the opposition members did not attend the House following their suspension.
The bill, piloted by Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, provides for stopping transmission and intercepting messages in case of public emergency, in the interest of the public, to prevent incitement for committing offence.
«The bill will promote structural reforms in the telecom sector,» Vaishnaw said.
«On the occurrence of any public emergency, including disaster management, or in the interest of public safety, the central government or a state government or any officer specially authorised in this behalf by the central government or a state government, if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, by notification-take temporary possession of any telecommunication service or telecommunication network from an authorised entity,» the bill said.
According to the bill, the press messages of correspondents accredited to the Centre or state governments shall not be intercepted or detained unless their transmission has been prohibited under rules applicable for public emergency, public order etc.
The bill provides for the allocation of spectrum to satellite communications companies through the administrative method, Vaishnaw said.
The provisions of the bill, it may be mentioned, are in line with the demand of global satellite services companies and reject the argument made by domestic telecom players Jio and Vodafone Idea for allocation of spectrum for commercial use through the auction route.
As per the bill, «the central government shall assign spectrum for telecommunication through auction except for entries listed in the First Schedule for which assignment shall be done by administrative process.»
The first
