The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has yet to approve a draft of the office’s new organisational structure, a key element to improve its management operations.
The new structure is expected to accommodate the existing board structure, which reflects the convergence of telecommunications and broadcasting.
A source on the NBTC board who requested anonymity said the delay in implementing the new organisational structure could affect related industries and the regulator’s operating efficiency.
The existing NBTC board started its six-year working term in April last year. It comprises seven commissioners who were recruited under the amended NBTC Act.
The amended act does not specify that each of the seven qualified candidates for the NBTC commissioner posts must come from seven specific backgrounds.
The previous act determined the recruitment of 11 commissioners, of which five formed a telecom committee, the other five the broadcasting committee, and the final one was the NBTC’s board chairman.
The existing seven commissioners do not clearly divide their duties into telecom and broadcasting affairs, but each commissioner is assigned to shape regulatory frameworks in line with his or her working experience and qualifications.
EFFECT OF THE DELAY
The source said the NBTC office’s existing management and organisational structure does not match the convergence ecosystem.
It is also not in line with the frequencies management principles of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and might not be able to provide optimum benefits to people and businesses.
For example, under the existing structure, the company which wants to operate a satellite service in the country is required to apply for licences via three of NBTC’s units. It has to contact NBTC’s office of satellite business to apply for a licence for the right to use an orbital slot; NBTC’s office of telecom service to apply for a licence for an operating satellite service; and NBTC’s office of communication radio utilisation to request a licence of gateway operation.
Under the new structure, the satellite service company will be required to apply for all related licences only at NBTC’s licensing division.
The source said the draft of the new organisational structure determines eight divisions: policy and planning, academic, licensing, entrepreneur promotion and protection, legal and administrative, regional operations, organisation management, and supporting division.
The existing structure has five divisions – telecom, broadcasting, regional operation, strategy, and academic division – each led by NBTC deputy secretary-generals.
The source added that the new structure might affect deputy secretary-generals in the divisions and directors of the units. The number of deputy secretary-general posts will increase, while the number of existing units will decrease.
Some deputy secretary-generals might be concerned with the change under the new structure, while some inefficient unit heads might be affected, the source said.
The source said the agenda of the new office structure was set to be considered by the board in the previous two meetings, but was not tabled for consideration until Aug 9.
However, at the board meeting on Aug 9, NBTC chairman Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck said the board had to vote to scrap the version of the resolution of the new office structure which was passed in 2019 by the former NBTC board.
However, NBTC commissioner AM Thanapant Raicharoen argued that the board can vote to approve its own draft without the need to scrap the resolution made by the former board.
During the meeting, AM Thanapant said the chairman’s requirement to scrap the previous resolution was without good reason, as amending master plans or making new regulations has never previously needed commissioners to scrap former resolutions.
Section 58 of the NBTC Act empowers the NBTC to issue regulations and announcements related to personnel management, budgeting, finance and assets, and other operations of duties. Thus, consideration of the draft of the office’s new structure is within the scope of the NBTC board’s authority.
Four commissioners in the meeting supported the NBTC board in voting for the draft immediately without the need to revoke the previous resolution. They were AM Thanapant, Pirongrong Ramasoota, Suphat Suphachalasai and Sompob Purivigraipong.
However, Dr Sarana proposed consulting the Council of State on the matter and then adjourned the meeting.