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Pilot: DoT mechanism to check pesky calls, SMS

NEW DELHI: Following the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) new regulations against telemarketing calls and SMS, the Department of Telecommunications has begun developing a foolproof mechanism to ensure that mobile subscribers are not subjected to harassment from pesky calls and SMS. The new guidelines will come into effect from January 1, 2011.

“Before next year when the new guidelines become applicable, we will create a special mechanism in the DoT so that TRAI's new regulations are enacted in a more effective and stringent manner,” Minister of State for Communications and Information and Technology Sachin Pilot told The Hindu.

Welcoming TRAI's new regulations against telemarketers, Mr. Pilot said nowhere in the world did such practice of pesky call or SMS prevailed.“While implementing the new guidelines, stress would be on ensuring that no consumer complaint remained unanswered. Any abuse of subscribers' rights would not be tolerated.”

“Besides the severity of penalty, it is the surety of punishment that is more important … we will make sure that not only the telemarketers but also the erring operators are penalised if they deviate from the new guidelines,” he asserted.

In its new regulations, TRAI has hiked fine against erring telemarketing companies up to Rs.2.5 lakh besides recommending blacklisting of habitual defaulters.

It has also directed that no telemarketing call or SMS be sent between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m., while subscribers who want to get such calls or SMS will have to register for it with the DoT.

Stringent action

Mr. Pilot said the DoT would take stringent action against erring companies if they failed to comply with the new guidelines.

“TRAI's recommendations have come as a welcome relief to subscribers who were feeling cheated and harassed by untimely telemarketing calls and SMS that invaded their privacy,” he said.

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