NBTC to appeal against court ruling in Thai TV case

NBTC to appeal against court ruling in Thai TV case

BANGKOK, 15th March 2018 (NNT) – The National Broadcast and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) Board is preparing to appeal against a Central Administrative Court ruling allowing Thai TV to return its digital television license and compelling the NBTC to return its 1.5 billion baht insurance deposit. 

Vice Chairman of the NBTC Board Col Natee Sukonrat stated that the agency accepts the court’s ruling and will comply with its orders but has three points of contention.

The first is the characterization of its digital television operation allowances as a form of concession, as the NBTC was formed with the purpose of converting concessions into licenses.

The second is with the court’s view that the NBTC failed to expand its service network as contractually agreed to, as such a failure would also apply to other impaired operators.

The third notes that the NBTC has already sustained punitive action for a delay in the Public Relations Department’s equipment setup and that it has already passed out digital television set-top box coupons to citizens. 

The commission is to bring up the three points in an appeal to be submitted in the next two to three weeks. 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreau-ngam remarked today that the judgement in the issue between Thai TV and the NBTC should serve to set several important precedents both for the state and the NBTC, noting that if its appeal is accepted the matter will be considered ongoing.

 

-- nnt 2018-03-15