CAG slams Telecom dept for encouraging adhocism in 'Management of Spectrum'
New Delhi: Slamming Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for encouraging adhocism in 'Management of Spectrum', the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has observed that the decision making in DoT was plagued with adhocism.
The apex auditor also observed that adhoc arrangement by the DoT for opening application windows for three/six months for the allotment of spectrum caused uncertainties of availability of resource among government users and delayed the spectrum assignments and denial of spectrum in some cases.
The CAG, in its report that was tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday, recommended that the DoT may devise a policy for allotment and assignment of spectrum for captive users/other commercial usage, in alignment with statements made in National Digital Communication Policy (NDCP)-2018 and end adhocism in allotment of spectrum to government departments/agencies.
The DoT may also review the pricing mechanism of spectrum for captive users in order to incentivise ministries/departments/agencies to maintain spectrum management discipline. They may consider differential pricing depending on the features and usage of various spectrum bands, the CAG report said, adding the report contains significant observations and recommendations emanating out of the performance audit conducted.
The CAG further observed that post Supreme Court judgement of 2012 in 2G case that spectrum being a valuable natural resource has to be auctioned wherever there is demand, there had been adhoc mechanism for assignment of spectrum to needy users for captive uses and commercial services other than telecom access services.
"This had caused delay and denial in assignment of spectrum, causing uncertainties amongst potential users. Pricing policies for administrative assignment of spectrum had not been reviewed since 2012, depending on the usage and demand for spectrum. DoT had not constituted a permanent committee/ group to advise them on complex issues related to spectrum management including re-farming of spectrum for efficient and optimal utilisation of the scarce resource," the CAG report said.
The CAG also advised that the DoT may review the international best practices in spectrum management, for suitable incorporation of these best practices for spectrum management in India and Department of Space (DoS) and DoT need to work together to identify an appropriate technology solution in such a manner that both services can coexist in important frequency
bands.
The apex auditor has also suggested formulation of a policy or spectrum management among Central Armed Police Forces and DoT by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
