Internet industry group objects to NBTC moves to regulate OTT

[webfact]

Internet industry group objects to NBTC moves to regulate OTT
By   SIRIVISH TOOMGUM
THE NATION
 

BANGKOK: -- THE ASIA Internet Coalition has warned the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission that its move to regulate over-the-top (OTT) business could be detrimental to Thailand, stoke business uncertainty, slow economic growth and dampen investment in the country’s growing digital industry.

 

OTT is the delivery of content such as films and TV programmes via the Internet, either free or for a charge.

 

The AIC is an industry association promoting the understanding and resolutions of Internet policy issues in the Asia-Pacific region, with tech giants like Facebook, Google, Twitter and Yahoo among its members.

 

Yesterday AIC managing director Jeff Paine expressed the group’s concerns in writing to Thares Punsri, chairman of the NBTC, and Natee Sukonrat, chairman of its subcommittee on OTT policy.

 

The AIC said it welcomed constructive engagement with Thai authorities on OTT regulation. However, the NBTC has not made any of its draft OTT regulations public.

 

Generally, the NBTC’s proposal for OTT regulation appears to disadvantage Thai consumers and content creators uniquely compared with many other countries. The proposed regulation would also hinder the government’s “Thailand 4.0” ambitions, it said.

 

The NBTC subcommittee yesterday advised the top 47 spenders on online advertising to comply strictly with corporate good governance by not providing any support or running their ads on major OTT network platforms that fail to register with the commission by the deadline of July 22. It also explained its process of regulating the OTT operators. 

 

These 47 top spenders are from seven industries – automotive, banking and finance, property, insurance, telecommunications, consumer products, and energy.

 

The subcommittee called what it deemed as major OTT network platforms to register with it as OTT operators for the first time on June 22. Once registered, they will be immediately permitted to operate OTT business under the Broadcasting Act of 2008. 

 

The panel has given this first OTT group the deadline of July 22 to register with the NBTC or face the risk of hindered business operations. 

 

On June 22, YouTube, Facebook and Netflix failed to register with the NBTC, though Netflix informed the panel that it would meet with it on the matter early in July.

 

Natee said yesterday that if the July 22 deadline is ignored, the NBTC would inform the embassies of the countries that these OTT platforms belong to that these OTT platforms failed to comply with the relevant law.

 

If the advertising companies and top ad spenders or other companies still support these OTT operators, the NBTC will warn them that they are not in compliance with good governance practices.

 

If after its warning, they still support these illegal OTT platforms, the NBTC will inform the Stock Exchange of Thailand, if they are the SET-listed companies, about their failure to comply with what it considers good governance. 

 

If they are state agencies, the NBTC will inform their regulators about their practice. If they continue to support these illegal OTT operators, the NBTC will resort to legal channels to deal with them. Thai companies’ advertising on OTT channels stood at about Bt5 billion last year, Natee said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/business/EconomyAndTourism/30319481

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-30

[Srikcir]

On 6/30/2017 at 5:56 AM, webfact said:

If after its warning, they still support these illegal OTT platforms, the NBTC will inform the Stock Exchange of Thailand, if they are the SET-listed companies, about their failure to comply with what it considers good governance. 

Why would "good governance" be a concern for the SET with any listed companies so long as companies comply with SET rules and regulations?

Might be a concern for shareholders if profitability and growth is affected, but "bad" governance as the NBTC sees it might actually be driving company profits.