The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

In News: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today issued its recommendations on “Renewal of Multi-System Operators (MSOs) Registration”.

Aim:

• to regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier vested in the Central Government.
• to create and nurture conditions for growth of telecommunications in the country in a manner and at a pace which will enable India to play a leading role in emerging global information society.
• to provide a fair and transparent policy environment which promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

• It is a statutory body, established in 1997 by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997
• It is headed by a chairman and not more than two full-time members and not more than two part-time members.
• TRAI is administered through a secretariat headed by a secretary.
• It comes under Ministry of Communications and Broadcasting.
• The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI.
• TDSAT was set up to adjudicate any dispute between a licensor and a licensee, between two or more service providers, between a service provider and a group of consumers, and to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction, decision or order of TRAI.
• TRAI has brought out Mycall app, MySpeed app and Do not disturb (DND 2.0) apps to ensure that there is transparency between what consumers are paying for and what telecom operators are promising to provide at a certain rate.

Source PIB

Previous Year Question

Q.1) With reference to National Legal Services Authority, consider the following statements: (2011)

1. Its objective is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity.
2. It issues guidelines for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the legal programmes and schemes throughout the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither I nor 2