In a relief to telemarketers, sectoral regulator Trai has proposed that phones disconnected for sending pesky communications could be restored on payment of Rs 500 per connection.
Coming down heavily on pesky callers, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had last year approved disconnection of their phones if rules of unwanted calls and messages were flouted by them, or on their behalf.
"Through these amendments, the Authority is proposing to levy a charge of Rs 500 per telecom resource for reconnection of the telecom resources of entities on whose behalf commercial transaction were found to be solicited by their agents, but have subsequently taken corrective measures to the satisfaction of the Authority," Trai said.
In August, Trai had ordered disconnection of the phones, after second notice, of entities on whose behalf commercial transactions had been solicited.
The Authority had noted the continued problem faced by customers receiving unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) from persons who are not registered as telemarketers.
Trai had noted such persons deliberately masquerade as normal subscribers for engaging in telemarketing activities.
"In cases where the UCC contains reference to another telephone number or an entity such as banks, insurance companies, builders for which the commercial transaction has been solicited, the telecom resources issued to the subscriber /entity for which commercial transaction has been solicited, shall be disconnected across all service providers..." Trai had said.
Trai said some of the entities have approached it requesting for re-connection and in cases where the Authority was satisfied with the measures taken by them, it had ordered reconnection.
However, the Authority said there should be further deterrent against misuse of "telecom resources" for soliciting business apart from meeting administration costs.
"Therefore, it is now been proposed through these regulations to levy a reconnection charge of Rs 500 per telecom resource, subject to a maximum of Rs 5,00,000, from these entities," Trai said in draft Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Fifteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2014.
It has asked stakeholders to send their comments on the regulations by February 12.
