The federal government is issuing new regulations under the Telecommunications Act 2023.

Mumbai: The federal government has issued new rules under the Telecom Act, 2023, stipulating that only a Cabinet Secretary or officials of equivalent rank can be a member of the board of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The official said, “Section 59(b) of the Act amends Section 4 of the TRAI Act, 1997 by specifying the criteria for appointment of the Chairman and members of TRAI.”

The government last month implemented certain sections of the law from June 26. They include a rule allowing the government to take control and management of any telecommunications service or network in the interests of national security, friendly relations with foreign countries or in times of war.

“The Central Government has fixed 26th June 2024 as the date of commencement of Sections 1, 2, 10 to 30, 42 to 44, 46, 47, 50 to 58, 61 and 62 of the Telecommunication Act, 2023 (44 of 2023),” it said in a notification last month.

From July 5, some provisions of these chapters, including the criteria for appointment of the TRAI chairman and members, will come into force.

The new rules restrict experts with professional experience in telecom, industry, finance, accounting, law, etc. from becoming the Chairman of TRAI. The new law states, “A person who is or has been in Government service shall not be eligible for appointment as Chairman unless he has held the post of Secretary to the Government of India or any equivalent post in the Central or State Government.”

Other features of the sections effective from July 5 include optimal spectrum utilization. The Act provides a legal framework for efficient use of scarce spectrum through re-allocation, sharing, trading, leasing and surrender of spectrum. It allows for flexible, liberalised and technology-neutral use of spectrum and empowers the central government to establish an enforcement and monitoring mechanism.

The use of equipment that blocks telecommunications connections has also been banned unless permitted by the central government.