From www.bangkokpost.com/tech/technews/172582...location-bill-passed

The House of Representatives, boycotted by the majority of opposition MPs, on Wednesday passed a bill to set up a regulatory body for the allocation of radio and television frequencies and the supervision of radio, television and telecommunications.

The bill, which had long been stalled by the opposition's scrutiny, was endorsed in the third reading with a majority vote of 245 in 20 minutes and without debate.

It will be fforwarded to the Senate for consideration. If the bill is passed without major alterations, it will be published in the Royal Gazette for enforcement.

The bill sets up the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) to allocate frequencies and oversee radio, television and telecommunications.

The selection of NBTC members must be completed with 180 days of the law taking effect. The NBTC will then take full responsibility for allocating frequencies for mass communication and telecommunications.

Once the NBTC is in place, existing problems over the operations of community radio and television stations, cable television, and satellite television in terms of their operating licenses and contents can be dealt with. The NBTC will also be responsible for issuing licences for operating 3G and 4G services.

The NBTC will be the country's legal representative to enter into various international agreements on use of frequencies.

Somkiat Tangkijvanich, n academic at the Thailand Development Research Institution and secretary of the House committee which scrutinised the bill, said although he was glad the legislation was finally passed by the House of Representatives, he still wanted many points raised for observation that had not been debated.

However, he believed the bill would be debated in the Senate.

The House also passed in the second and third readings two other - relating to a national farmers council and the expropriation of land for construction of the Ram Intra-outer ring road.