The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today released the Draft Regulation of the Telecommunications Consumer Education and Protection Fund (Sixth Amendment), 2023 for stakeholder comments.
TRAI had notified the Regulation of the Telecommunications Consumer Education and Protection Fund, 2007 [(6 of 2007) [hereinafter referred to as the principal regulations] on June 15, 2007. Under these regulations, a fund called the “Telecommunication Consumers Education and Protection Fund” (TCEPF) was created. The income generated by the TCEPF is used to undertake activities such as conducting consumer awareness programs, seminars, workshops, developing educational and awareness materials, etc. For the dissemination of information to consumers. The activities are planned by the Committee on the Utilization of the Telecommunications Education and Consumer Protection Fund (hereinafter “CUTCEF”) established pursuant to the regulation.
The Authority noted that for the preparation, keeping and auditing of accounts and for the participation of representatives of consumer associations in CUTCEF meetings, the expenses must be borne by the TCEPF and the provisions are required in the regulations. As a result, amendments to regulation 06 and 13 of the main regulation have been proposed.
In the year 2020, Corporation Bank, in which TCEPF is maintained, was merged with Union Bank of India. Additionally, the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 (68 of 1986) was repealed by the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 (35 of 2019). Therefore, changes have been made to change the relevant provisions in the main regulations.
The draft regulation is accessible on the TRAI website www.trai.gov.in and will be open for comments from interested parties until August 14, 2023.
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