New telecoms bill gives users better protection
New telecoms bill gives users better protection
JAKARTA (JP): The new telecommunications bill is expected to
better protect the rights of telecommunications providers and
users, say legislators, telecommunications providers and
government officials.
Deputy chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction,
Ali Hardi Kiaidemak, said over the weekend the new bill
stipulated increased sanctions against individuals or
institutions violating regulations in the telecommunications
sector.
"We hope the new bill will be effective in eradicating
violation and fraud in the telecommunications sector committed
either by telecommunications providers, users or non-users," he
said.
On Thursday, House Commission IV for communications approved
the government's proposed new telecommunications bill, which will
replace the existing Telecommunications Law No 3/1989.
The new bill, which is expected to be endorsed by House
members on Aug. 25, stipulates the abolishment of exclusive
rights given to domestic telecommunications provider PT Telkom
and international telecommunications PT Indosat. However, the two
companies will be allowed to hold their exclusive rights until
their contracts ended.
Telkom has the rights to provide local fixed lines nationwide
until 2010 and domestic long distance telecommunications services
until 2005. Indosat, and its subsidiary PT Satelindo, have the
rights to supply overseas long distance services until 2004.
In order to protect the rights of customers, the new bill
prohibits telecommunications providers from compelling customers
to choose a particular provider or from disclosing information
sent by customers through their facilities.
Customers and other members of the public will be prohibited
in the law from unlawful accessing any telecommunications network
and frequencies, and from making or selling counterfeit
telecommunications equipment.
Parties failing to comply with the regulations could face a
jail term of between one year and six years and/or a fine ranging
from Rp 100 million to Rp 600 million.
Chairman of Commission IV Burhanuddin Napitupulu said the new
bill would be "shock therapy" for violators of telecommunications
regulations.
Violations in the telecommunications sector were not seriously
addressed before due to inadequate rules and sanctions stipulated
by the existing law, he said.
The current law imposes a maximum one-year jail term or a Rp
10 million fine for all violations.
Head of the industry policy division of the Indonesian
Cellular Telephone Association (ATSI), Rudiantara, said the new
bill should prevent telecommunications providers from cheating
customers. He said the bill would prevent providers from
neglecting to provide customers with all necessary information or
from changing the terms of services without their customers'
consent.
The bill is also expected to prevent irresponsible customers
from evading the responsibility of providing true information or
from paying fees.
Local cellular operators said they lost over Rp 200 billion
last year as a result of unpaid bills by customers who had
provided fake identities.
State telecommunications company PT Telkom earlier suggested
the establishment of a separate law or decree regarding
violations in the telecommunications sector. Telkom said areas
needing to be covered in a separate law were illegal
interception, electronic vandalism, theft of telecommunication
services, telecommunication piracy, telemarketing fraud and
electronic funds transfer crimes.
Telkom said the separate law was needed to allow stronger law
enforcement in the telecommunications sector.
However, head of the telecommunications and information
supervision, Eman S. Sumantri, said there was no significant
reason to create a separate law on telecommunications fraud.
"We believe the new bill is adequate enough to accommodate all
issues regarding regulations and sanctions in the
telecommunications sector," he said. (cst)