ANSWER
(a) whether the Government have received the report of the Committee on the operation and development of telecom services in the rural areas especially in regard to the Village Public Telephones;
(b) if so, the details of the recommendations of the Committee and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(c) if not, the time by which the report is likely to be submitted?
ANSWER
(a), (b) & (c): Yes Sir. The Government has received the report of the Committee. Its recommendations are attached. These have been accepted and action for implementation has been initiated.
ANNEXURE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
(i) Wireless in Local Loop `WLL` for rural telecom with a range of about 25 Kms. should be inducted throughout the country to provide quick and efficient service. To start with, one WLL system of 500 lines capacity should be provided in every SDCA in all the circles having large number of Villages not yet having telecom facilities (VPTs). Procurement process should be advanced to ensure supply of WLL equipment for 2000-2001 latest by November 2000 and for 2001-2002 latest by April 2001. Vendors should be asked immediately to get their equipment validated. Coordinated planning for entire equipment should be completed by February 2000.
(ii) The requirement of satellite terminals for remote and isolated areas is substantially higher. Suitable systems should be selected quickly. Suitable satellite terminals in required quantity may be procured from the market following usual procurement procedure.
(iii) State-wise village data should be reviewed. Villages shown depopulated in the census report should be removed from village data. New revenue villages, if any, should be included in the programme.
(iv) VPTs should be provided preferably at grocery shops. Selection of operator/location should be decided departmentally.
(v) VPTs should have STD facility. Existing VPTs also should be upgraded for STD facility progressively. Charge Indicator should be provided by the VPT (PCO) operator with all VPTs with STD facility within one year of the installation of the VPT.
(vi) The security deposit to provide STD on VPTs should be reduced to Rs. 250/-. The condition of guarantee of minimum monthly revenue of Rs.100/- should be removed.
(vii) The operator`s commission for VPT with STD facility should be same as applicable for rural STD PCO.
(viii) Faulty MARR systems should be repaired. Unserviceable systems should be replaced. Status report should be obtained within 2 months. After covering remaining villages with VPTs, the MARR systems in the network should be replaced progressively.
(ix) The VPTs disconnected for non-payment should be shifted to new location / operator after waiting for payment for 3 months.
(x) FSPs have reiterated, in a meeting taken by MOS(C), their commitment to meet their obligation in respect of rural telecom (VPTs). They should be asked to intimate their Roll-out plan to the department and to start providing VPTs.
(xi) We should look at access technologies based on optical fibre for specialised applications.
(xii) Department of Telecom Services should facilitate so that the VPTs are upgraded to Public Tele Information Centres / Information Dhabas progressively. Hon`ble Speaker (Lok Sabha) and Chairman Rajya Sabha will be requested to allow MPLAD funds for providing computer support for internet connections in all Government aided schools and colleges.