(a) whether a three-stage process to eliminate the Access Deficit Charge (ADC) regime by 2008-2009 has been put forward by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI);
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has advocated for continuation of ADC in order to support BSNL in its rural telephony effort;
(d) if so, whether the Government has taken any decision in this regard; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 192 FOR 3RD MARCH, 2006 REGARDING ACCESS DEFICT CHARGE.
(a) & (b) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) vide para 98 of its `The Telecommunication Interconnection Usage Charges Regulation, 2003 dated 29.10.2003` noted that the ideal regime would be a USO type regime that is both simple to implement and does not impose regulatory incentives/disincentives based on differential ADC burden for different kinds of calls. The TRAI is of the opinion that the prevailing ADC regime should be made to transition towards an USO type of regime by 2008-09.
(c) to (e) Department of Telecommunications is of the opinion that ADC should continue in order to provide services at affordable tariffs. TRAI has been apprised accordingly.