BJP's Telecom Cell launches campaign against unsolicited text SMSs, voice calls
The memorandum demands the implementation of a system that makes it mandatory for telecom service providers and telemarketer to pay telecom users for unsolicited text SMSs and automated voice calls.
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s newly constituted Telecom Consumer Cell has announced the launch of a campaign against the menace of unsolicited text SMSs and automated voice calls. Sanjay Bhalla, the National Convener of the BJP Telecom Consumer Cell submitted BJP’s memorandum of demands related to this issue to Dr JS Sarma, Chairperson of TRAI, today. The memorandum demands the implementation of a system that makes it mandatory for telecom service providers and telemarketer to pay telecom users for unsolicited text SMSs and automated voice calls.
In his meeting today with Dr Sarma, Mr Bhalla pointed out that, in the TRAI policy guidelines document for UCC (No 305-17/2010-QoS, dated 1 December 2010, on the setting up and enforcement of rules for Access Providers and Telemarketers with respect to UCCs, clauses pertaining to the penalties merely sp ecify that “....the penalty amounts shall be deducted from the security deposit of the telemarketer and deposited in the account as may be specified by TRAI, from time to time.....” (Schedule 4, Clause 10).
“Surprisingly there is no reference on compensating the telecom consumer for the inconvenience caused and the unsolicited use of the resource by the telemarketer. By law, the cell phone is the private property of the telecom user; therefore it is the consumer’s right to be paid for the usage of the private resource by a third party-in this case, the Access Provider/telemarketer,” says Mr Bhalla.
The BJP Telecom Consumer Cell has demanded that TRAI should issue a notification directing the Access Providers to directly credit the accounts of telecom users as per below:
In his meeting today with Dr Sarma, Mr Bhalla pointed out that, in the TRAI policy guidelines document for UCC (No 305-17/2010-QoS, dated 1 December 2010, on the setting up and enforcement of rules for Access Providers and Telemarketers with respect to UCCs, clauses pertaining to the penalties merely sp ecify that “....the penalty amounts shall be deducted from the security deposit of the telemarketer and deposited in the account as may be specified by TRAI, from time to time.....” (Schedule 4, Clause 10).
“Surprisingly there is no reference on compensating the telecom consumer for the inconvenience caused and the unsolicited use of the resource by the telemarketer. By law, the cell phone is the private property of the telecom user; therefore it is the consumer’s right to be paid for the usage of the private resource by a third party-in this case, the Access Provider/telemarketer,” says Mr Bhalla.
The BJP Telecom Consumer Cell has demanded that TRAI should issue a notification directing the Access Providers to directly credit the accounts of telecom users as per below:
• For Every Unsolicited Commercial Communication (SMS): 5/- (Rupees Five) per such marketing SMS
• For Every Unsolicited Commercial Communication (Voice Call): 10/- ( Rupees Ten) per such marketing call
According to Mr Bhalla, the system is technically feasible: “We have discussed this issue with several telecom providers and they do not see much difficulty in implementing this system.”
The mission of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Telecom Consumer Cell is to be the voice of the Indian telecom consumer on all service and policy issues relating to telecommunications.
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