About Telecom Regulatory Authority of India:
- It was established under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, passed by Parliament.
- Mandate: To regulate telecom services in India, including tariff fixation/revision, this was earlier the domain of the Central Government.
- TRAI's mission is to create and nurture conditions for growth of telecommunications in the country in a manner and at a pace which will enable India to play a leading role in emerging global information society.
- Functions of TRAI:
- Scope of regulation: Covers areas like tariffs, quality of service, interconnection, spectrum management, and consumer protection in the telecom sector.
- Policy role: Issues regulations, recommendations, and orders that guide telecom policy-making and market practices.
- Composition of TRAI
- Chairman: It consists of a Chairperson, a maximum of two full-time members, and two part-time members.
- Tenure: Members serve for three yearsor until the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
- Appointments are made by the Central Government.
- The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, and established a Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).
- TDSAT was set up to adjudicate any dispute between a licensor and a licensee, between two or more service providers, between a service provider and a group of consumers, and to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction, decision or order of TRAI.
