TRAI consultation paper addresses ease of doing business in broadcast

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the consultation paper on ‘Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting Sector’. The consultation paper seeks stakeholders’ comments on simplifying the applications which have just the required details for the conduct of business and well-documented timelines with query response systems, having seamless integration with other ministries, etc.

TRAI has suo-moto floated this consultation paper to identify various concerns in the existing processes and suggest measures for the reforms required in the regulatory processes, policies, practices and procedures in the telecom and broadcasting sector for creating conducive business environment in India.

Telecommunication and broadcasting sectors have emerged as key drivers of economic and social development and have made the country a favourite business destination amongst investors. The Telecom and broadcasting sectors have immense potential to move on the higher trajectory of growth, if business environment could be made more attractive by simplifying the existing provisions of policy frameworks in various ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology involved in issuing permission, registrations, and licenses to the players of the sector.

This consultation paper emphasises on the need for a single-entry window, wherein an investor/ entrepreneur should be able to apply for all the licenses/ approvals without any further need to submit physical copies of the application and visit any department physically. In approvals, where the process involves the movement of the application across various ministries and departments, the approval should be streamlined to make it completely integrated and accessible online in trackable response mode.

Further the single-window system may also be equipped with the latest technologies like a chatbot, automated call centre and Artificial[1]Intelligence (AI) based tracking, analysis, and response systems, so that the person willing to apply for licenses/ approval can get answers to all their queries regarding the process, mechanism, policies, documents required, etc., instantly.

The key factors to be identified through this consultation paper are:

Simplified applications with well-defined processes: The format of the application while applying for a grant of any license/ registration should be simple with optimum requirements of information. Further, the entire process of issuance of a license/ permission should be well-defined and well-published in the policy guidelines and/or citizen charter or any manual as deemed fit and should be available on the website of the Ministry/ Department.

Timelines for queries, approvals, and deemed approvals: Timelines should be prescribed and followed in letter and spirit, and provision of deemed approval should exist wherever feasible. Timelines for raising the query and their reply should also be well defined. All queries should be raised in one go only.

Inter-ministerial/ departments and intra department movement of files: The inter-ministerial and inter-departmental movement and approval should be online and well-integrated. Opinion/ approval of the other departments/ ministries should be taken only where there is a requirement and should be done in a time-bound manner with the provision of deemed approval.

Minimal Physical Interface: Physical interface should be done away with to the extent possible, and it should only be used as a last resort where there is a specific requirement such as handing over devices to testing labs, etc.

Transparent with end-to-end online tracking system: The system should be transparent end-to-end, and the applicant should be able to know the status of his application at all times.

Use of digital technologies: Use of technologies like DigiLocker, agreements, and contracts incorporated with digital signatures/ electronic signatures, etc. to maximise the use of technology and technological instruments as far as possible.

Stakeholders are required to send in their written comments on the consultation paper by January 5, 2022, while counter comments can be submitted by January 19, 2022.