Editorial 1 : Incoming call
Context: Regulation of net world must address privacy concerns, simplify procedures.
Introduction
- The introduction of the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, inches closer to achieving the Union government’s long-standing aim of consolidating the law for wireless networks and Internet service providers, with a 46-page statute that leaves existing regulatory structures largely intact, while simplifying bureaucratic procedures such as applying for licences and permits for telecom operators.
Key features of the bill
- Licensing processes are set to be digitised, and telecom operators will have a new way of dealing with non-compliance with their licence terms, while also having access to district- and State-level authorities for permissions and dispute resolution when setting up their equipment and optical fibre networks on public and private properties.
- The Bill also lets the satellite Internet industry — long touted as a way for at least some remote areas to get net connectivity — breathe a sigh of relief, as there is clarity that it will not need to bid for spectrum, thus putting India on similar footing with other countries.
- The Bill has been welcomed by industry bodies for streamlining their regulatory landscape and promoting their ease of doing business and could possibly give the much-needed regulatory stability and enabling environment for the next phase of telecom expansion.
Persisting issues
- The expansive definition of telecom brings in its ambit a range of services, and state authority over them raises concerns of privacy and surveillance.
- These concerns are not merely academic considering past allegations of state-sponsored snooping.
- The Bill tries to deal with spamming concerns, but its proposed solutions require additional compromises to privacy.
- The issues of surveillance reform and Internet shutdowns have massive implications and must not be avoided just because they are contentious.
What government needs to do?
- The government must address these concerns with an open mind, considering the vast powers that the text of the Bill grants it.
- When the last draft was publicly floated for consultation, responses from industry bodies and the public were withheld from scrutiny.
- To further reassure the public of its clean motives, the government must scrupulously conduct rulemaking with absolute transparency and consultation.
- This is especially important as many of the Act’s provisions need subordinate legislation notified by the Department of Telecommunications before they come into force.
Conclusion
- The telecommunications landscape has evolved dramatically since the Telegraph Act was first passed in the 19th century, and regulation and law-making of the Internet world need to comprehensively address all the issues that have come with this digital explosion.
Editorial 2 : Turbulence in south
Context: On the heavy rain in southern Tamil Nadu, weather forecasting and preparedness.
Introduction
- December has been a month of turbulence for Tamil Nadu. Just when the northern parts of the State, Chennai and neighbouring districts, were recovering from Cyclone Michaung that crossed the coast two weeks ago, the southern parts, especially Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari districts, were battered by extremely heavy rainfall over Sunday to early Monday.
Extremely heavy rainfall, and extreme damages
- Attributed to upper air circulation, 39 places registered “extremely heavy rainfall” (rain above 21 cm in 24 hours). Kayalpattinam in Thoothukudi recorded a whopping 95 cm while eight other places recorded over 50 cm in the same period.
- The entire weather activity was considered a freak occurrence in the ongoing northeast monsoon.
- Nearly four million people have been “very badly affected”, as pointed out by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in his letter to the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh.
- The Tamirabharani river even saw a flow of 1.5 lakh cubic feet per second (cusecs), another rarity. Even though the exact data on human loss has not yet been ascertained, the tally will be on the lower side.
- A train with about 800 passengers from Tiruchendur to Chennai, was stopped at the Srivaikuntam station.
- Going by initial reports, the infrastructure — roads, rail lines, canals, tanks and electric poles and many houses — has taken a beating.
Weather forecasting system
- The event again raises questions about weather forecasting and preparedness. As the enormity of the rainfall caught the State by surprise, questions have been asked why the Meteorological Department did not give any indication of its scale and coverage.
- But, the department’s line of defence is its warnings, since December 14, of “very heavy to extremely heavy” rain for three days. Besides, the country’s weather forecasting system has not progressed to the extent that exact amounts of rainfall, with their precise locations, can be predicted.
Coordination required.
- While this is understandable, the scientific community should work towards precise forecasting. More importantly, there is scope for closer coordination between every department and agency serving the people.
- For instance, a better working relationship between the Meteorology department and the Railways would have ensured that the Tiruchendur train did not run.
Conclusion
- Changes to the services of certain trains in the southern districts were made only in a reactive rather than proactive way. A more cohesive working arrangement among different agencies can have a mitigating effect.