MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI MILIND DEORA)
(a) & (b) Yes Madam, In order to curb Unsolicited Commercial Communications, TRAI notified the
Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications, Regulations, 2007 dated 5th June, 2007, putting
in place a framework for controlling unsolicited commercial communications. It envisaged establishment
of a National Do Not Call (NDNC) Registry to facilitate registration of requests from customers who do
not wish to received Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC). To improve the effectiveness of the
framework, the TRAI had subsequently amended these regulations by issue of the telecom Unsolicited
Commercial Communications (Amendment) Regulations, 2008 (1 of 2008) dated 17th March, 2008 and the
principal regulations were further amended by the Telecom Unsolicited Commercial communications
(second Amendment) Regulations, 2008 datd 21st October, 2008. However, it is observed that the
framework that has been put in place to curb UCC in 2007 has not been effective and needs revision.
(c) to (e) : TRAI has received compliance from all Access Providers for implementation of above regulations.
However, on an average approximately 47454 (averaged on Mar 2010 to Mar 2011) complaints per month are being
registered in this regard. TRAI has issued regulations and direction from time to time to prevent Unsolicited
Commercial Communications. TRAI also monitors the compliance to regulations and take the action in case any
violation is observed. The details of action taken against the telecom companies by TRAI and by the service
providers against telemarketers responsible for sending Unsolicited Commercial Communications are given below:
Number of Telephone disconnections of registered telemarketers (upto May, 2011) 72988
Number of Telephone disconnections of unregistered telemarketers (upto May, 2011) 118835
Number of Telemarketers charged with higher tariff of Rs. 500/- (upto May, 2011) 87716
Number of Telemarketers charged with higher tariff of Rs. 1000/- (upto May, 2011) 41813
Number of Telecom operators levied with financial disincentive (till date) 8
To make the framework to curb UCC more effective, TRAI has issued “ The Telecom Commercial Communications
Customer Preference Regulations, 2010†on 1st December 2010 with the objective to provide an effective
mechanism for curbing Unsolicited Commercial Communications. The Telecom Commercial Communications
Customer Preference Regulations, 2010 have been framed keeping in view the interest of the customers
and telemarketers while ensuring effective implementation. As per the provisions of the Telecom
commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010, registration of telemarketers
has started on web portal www.nccprrai.gov.in from 15th January, 2011. Registration of customer
preference on National Customer Preference Registry (NCPR) has started from 10th February, 2011.
However other operational provisions of regulations are yet to be notified by TRAI.
