Sinha to head telecom, IT panel

NEW DELHI, DEC 14: The government today issued the terms of reference for the new Group on Telecom and IT Convergence. The Group, headed by Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, is likely to include Communications Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, IT minister Pramod Mahajan, Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, Iamp;B MInister Arun Jaitley, reputed lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Ali Nariman, CVC chief N Vittal, Planning Commission Member Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Sudheendra Kulkarni, Director in the PMO and N K Singh secretary PMO. The Group has been entrusted with the task of preparing suitable draft amendments to the TRAI Act of 1997 to strengthen it and render it more independent. The Group will submit an interim report before January 15 and a final report before March 31, 2000.

The Group will also make recommendations on the creation of a credible level-playing field between public and private telecom players. It will also suggest steps to speedily resolve pending issues between the TRAI and the Department oftelecommunications.

The Group will also draft a new Telecom-IT Convergence Legislative framework to replace the Indian Telegraph Act of 1886. It shall also recommend whether there should be one law or separate inter-related laws 8211; and one or separate inter-related regulatory bodies for telecom, cable TV and other forms of communications.