New telecoms bill gives users better protection<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The new telecommunications bill is expected to
\nbetter protect the rights of telecommunications providers and
\nusers, say legislators, telecommunications providers and
\ngovernment officials.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction,
\nAli Hardi Kiaidemak, said over the weekend the new bill
\nstipulated increased sanctions against individuals or
\ninstitutions violating regulations in the telecommunications
\nsector.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the new bill will be effective in eradicating
\nviolation and fraud in the telecommunications sector committed
\neither by telecommunications providers, users or non-users,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, House Commission IV for communications approved
\nthe government's proposed new telecommunications bill, which will
\nreplace the existing Telecommunications Law No 3\/1989.<\/p>\n
The new bill, which is expected to be endorsed by House
\nmembers on Aug. 25, stipulates the abolishment of exclusive
\nrights given to domestic telecommunications provider PT Telkom
\nand international telecommunications PT Indosat. However, the two
\ncompanies will be allowed to hold their exclusive rights until
\ntheir contracts ended.<\/p>\n
Telkom has the rights to provide local fixed lines nationwide
\nuntil 2010 and domestic long distance telecommunications services
\nuntil 2005. Indosat, and its subsidiary PT Satelindo, have the
\nrights to supply overseas long distance services until 2004.<\/p>\n
In order to protect the rights of customers, the new bill
\nprohibits telecommunications providers from compelling customers
\nto choose a particular provider or from disclosing information
\nsent by customers through their facilities.<\/p>\n
Customers and other members of the public will be prohibited
\nin the law from unlawful accessing any telecommunications network
\nand frequencies, and from making or selling counterfeit
\ntelecommunications equipment.<\/p>\n
Parties failing to comply with the regulations could face a
\njail term of between one year and six years and\/or a fine ranging
\nfrom Rp 100 million to Rp 600 million.<\/p>\n
Chairman of Commission IV Burhanuddin Napitupulu said the new
\nbill would be \"shock therapy\" for violators of telecommunications
\nregulations.<\/p>\n
Violations in the telecommunications sector were not seriously
\naddressed before due to inadequate rules and sanctions stipulated
\nby the existing law, he said.<\/p>\n
The current law imposes a maximum one-year jail term or a Rp
\n10 million fine for all violations.<\/p>\n
Head of the industry policy division of the Indonesian
\nCellular Telephone Association (ATSI), Rudiantara, said the new
\nbill should prevent telecommunications providers from cheating
\ncustomers. He said the bill would prevent providers from
\nneglecting to provide customers with all necessary information or
\nfrom changing the terms of services without their customers'
\nconsent.<\/p>\n
The bill is also expected to prevent irresponsible customers
\nfrom evading the responsibility of providing true information or
\nfrom paying fees.<\/p>\n
Local cellular operators said they lost over Rp 200 billion
\nlast year as a result of unpaid bills by customers who had
\nprovided fake identities.<\/p>\n
State telecommunications company PT Telkom earlier suggested
\nthe establishment of a separate law or decree regarding
\nviolations in the telecommunications sector. Telkom said areas
\nneeding to be covered in a separate law were illegal
\ninterception, electronic vandalism, theft of telecommunication
\nservices, telecommunication piracy, telemarketing fraud and
\nelectronic funds transfer crimes.<\/p>\n
Telkom said the separate law was needed to allow stronger law
\nenforcement in the telecommunications sector.<\/p>\n
However, head of the telecommunications and information
\nsupervision, Eman S. Sumantri, said there was no significant
\nreason to create a separate law on telecommunications fraud.<\/p>\n
\"We believe the new bill is adequate enough to accommodate all
\nissues regarding regulations and sanctions in the
\ntelecommunications sector,\" he said. (cst)<\/p>",
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