BANGKOK, 10 February 2012 -The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission, or NBTC, is holding a hearing today to gauge public opinions over three draft master plans on frequency allocations in the country.
NBTC Chairman Air Chief Marshal Thares Punsri said the three drafts separately govern the management of radio and television frequencies as well as telecommunication businesses in Thailand.
Before the master plans are enforced, public opinions must be sought, as required by law, to make sure they are acceptable to Thai people. In Bangkok, the public hearing is held at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani while provincial hearings are held in Chiang Rai in the North, Udon Thani in the Northeast and Phuket in the South. Over 1,400 people have been sharing their thoughts via a video conference which is being relayed from Impact Arena. Participants consist of a broad spectrum of people. Many of them come from the private sector, consumer protection groups, the media, state enterprises, and government units.
According to ACM Thares, the three draft master plans cover regulations concerning consumer protection, radio and television frequency allocations, free competition, telecommunication development and services and the broadcasting and telecommunication sectors’ preparations for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. ACM Thares said the master plans are expected to be announced in the Royal Gazette and come into effect in the first quarter of this year.
