The Shivraj Patil Committee, in its 143-page report, has criticised the first come, first serve policy followed while allocating spectrum and has said that a comprehensive new legislation for the telecom sector is urgently required, like in other countries.
The committee added that the new legislation should be on the lines of the Radio Communications Act applied in Australia and New Zealand. The legislation, according to the committee, should have objectives relating to spectrum management including setting up of an independent level spectrum authority, promoting competition and maximising release of spectrum to society.
It also said that whenever a contract is to be awarded or a licence is to be granted, there must be objectivity in the procedures for selection. It must be in tune with the requirements of law, statutory norms and prevailing policies of the government. Also, such procedures must be reasonable, fair, transparent and certain. The selection of applicants must be by choice and the first come, first served basis is not justified when there are several applicants, there is competition and the resource is scarce.
