Telecommunication and Broadcasting Laws in India

Telecommunication has emerged as a key driver of economic and social development in an increasingly knowledge intensive global scenario, in which India needs to play a leadership role. National Telecom Policy-2012 is designed to ensure that India plays this role effectively and transforms the socio-economic scenario through accelerated equitable and inclusive economic growth by laying special emphasis on providing affordable and quality telecommunication services in rural and remote areas. Thrust of this policy is to underscore the imperative that sustained adoption of technology would offer viable options in overcoming developmental challenges in education, health, employment generation, financial inclusion and much else. NTP-2012 is an initiative to create a conducive policy framework to address these issues and to touch lives of all citizens and transform India. By formulating a clear policy regime, NTP-2012 endeavors to create an investor friendly environment for attracting additional investments in the sector apart from generating manifold employment opportunities in various segments of the sector. Availability of affordable and effective communications for the citizens is at the core of the vision and goal of the National Telecom Policy – 2012(National Telecom Policy – 2012)

Regulatory authority

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India[TRAI]

TRAI RULES AND REGULATIONS

The objectives of TRAI is to provide a fair and transparent policy environment which promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition.

Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)

TRAI Acts & Policies

1. TRAI Act, 1997
2. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Act, 2000
3. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Act, 2014

TRAI Rules and Regulations

1. Common Charter Of Telecom Services, 2005
2. Direct To Home Broadcasting Services (Standards of Quality of Service and Redressal of Grievances) Regulations, 2007
3. Domestic Leased Circuits Regulations, 2007
4. Intelligent Network Services in Multi Operator and Multi Network Scenario Regulations, 2006
5. International Telecommunication Access To Essential Facilities At Cable Landing Stations Regulations, 2007
6. International Telecommunication Cable Landing Stations Access Facilitation Charges and Co-location Charges Regulations, 2012
7. Quality of Service (Code of Practice For Metering and Billing Accuracy) Regulation, 2006
8. Quality of Service of Broadband Service Regulations, 2006
9. Register of Interconnect Agreements Regulations, 1999
10. Regulation On Guidelines For Registration Of Consumer Organizations/non-Government Organizations (NGOS) And Their Interaction With TRAI, 2001
    Regulation On Quality Of Service Of Dial-Up And Leased Line Internet Access Service, 2001
11. Regulation on Quality of Service of Basic and Cellular Mobile Telephone Services, 2005
12. Standards Of Quality Of Service (Broadcasting And Cable Services) (Cable Television – Non-Cas Areas) Regulations, 2009
13. Standards Of Quality Of Service Of Basic Telephone Service (Wireline) And Cellular Mobile Telephone Service Regulations, 2009
14. Standards of Quality of Service (Broadcasting and Cable Services) (Cable Television—Cas Areas) Regulation, 2006
15. TRAI (Levy Of Fees On Service Rendered, Petitions, Miscellaneous Applications And Copy Of Judgments) Regulations, 1999
16. TRAI (Levy of Fees and Other Charges For Tariff Plans) Regulation, 2002
17. TRAI Meetings for Transaction of Business Regulation, 1999
18. Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018
19. Telecom Consumers Protection and Redressal of Grievances Regulations, 2007
20. Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (Form, Verification and The Fee For Filing An Appeal) Rules, 2003
21. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Access To Information) Regulations, 2005
22. Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulations, 2007
23. Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations, 2012
24. Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection Regulations, 2004
25. Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Eighth) (Addressable Systems) Tariff Order, 2017
26. Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017
27. Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017
28. Telecommunication Consumers Education and Protection Fund Regulations, 2007
    Telecommunication Interconnection (Charges and Revenue Sharing) Regulation, 2001
29. Telecommunication Interconnection (Port Charges) Regulation, 2001
30. Telecommunication Interconnection Regulations, 2018
31. Telecommunication Interconnection Usage Charges Regulation, 2003
32. Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Per Port Transaction Charge and Dipping Charge Regulations, 2009
33. Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Regulations, 2009
34. Telecommunication Tariff Order, 1999
35. Telecommunication interconnection (Charges and revenue sharing) Regulation, 1999

Other Acts & Policies

Acts

1. Indian Telegraph Act,1885
2. The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933
3. Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950
4. Cable Television Network Act 1995
5. Cable Television Network (Regulation) Amendment Act
6. Cable Television Network Rules 1994
7. The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011
8. Cable Television Networks (First Amendment) Rules, 2012
9. Cable Television Networks (Second Amendment) Rules, 2012

Policies

1. National Telecom Policy 1994
2. New Telecom Policy 1999
3. Broadband Policy 2004
4. National Telecom Policy 2012