Supinya: Consumer advocate
Two National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission members, Supinya Klangnarong and Prawit Leesatapornwongsa, who did not support the 3G auction results, tell Krungthep Turakit TV how the regulator is facing a crisis of public faith over the controversy.
Q : Are you both in the opposition in the NBTC because you don’t understand the business or you are black sheep?
Prawit: It’s not that we don’t understand the business but other commissioners don’t understand consumer rights. We are like the representatives of consumers in the commission.
Supinya: Fairly allocating frequencies is not easy because we have different perspectives and mindsets. Besides the business of telecommunications and broadcasting is high stakes because they bring about high interests. We realise this fact and we try to balance state, public and private interests. We’re not in the extreme. We want just regulations because if we push the wrong button from the start, it will continue to be wrong.
Q : Your car tyres were punctured when you had just joined the commission. Have you ever thought that they would maltreat you like this?
Prawit: Since I heard that the NBTC has the image of using state funds inefficiently, I criticised some projects and those who felt I’m interfering in their “empire” sent a signal that I should not get involved, so the incident was the consequence. It was an outdated, ancient way that should not have been used by a commission that looks after modern businesses. This is only about 3G, then we will have 1800, 800 and 900, which are worth a lot. I may face more hurdles. I’m prepared for that.
For 1800, there are not just three [companies] but also TOT and CAT [Telecom]. We must speak about the truth not the interest, or who’ll gain or who’ll lose.
Q : You have also been criticised strongly for not following meeting etiquette.
Supinya: I was accused of being in the minority that doesn’t respect the majority. But as a minority member I still have the right to speak and they should not stop me. But independent agencies are not used to criticism. Fortunately I’m a woman and haven’t been harassed seriously. They just feel that I’m annoying. I can only cry out not more than this by tweeting through Twitter. I don’t resort to the media or press conferences.
Q : Are you going to continue to be in the minority?
Supinya: We’re not always the minority but we happen to be the minority in major issues such as returning frequencies, the NBTC budget and 3G. Our work will be more difficult because we aren’t just having internal conflicts but now society has joined us. Other NBTC members must answer society, not only us.
Prawit: What’s happening is what I wanted. There are 11 game players and the public or the media is the audience. Actually the public is the party that benefits so they must join the game. So the minority in the meeting is not the minority in society. If society agrees with us, we do not feel public pressure. The majority on the other hand faces public pressure. They don’t understand what’s happening.
How are you going to carry yourselves after this?
Supinya: We’ll carry on as we have been. I have been working in this field for 15-16 years. I adhere to my principles. I don’t know how long we can work in this position because the organisation is facing heavy scrutiny. But it’s not that since we’re facing a crisis of public faith, then we must keep our mouths shut and stop criticising our agency. We must restore public faith in us.
Q : How should we restore faith in the agency?
Prawit: We must stick to the principle not to favour operators and not allow conflicts of interest or succumb to bribery.
Q : From your point of view, are operators given favours?
Prawit: Look at the meeting agendas, the ones which are beneficial to operators such as amending regulations so they can work more conveniently or reducing 3G from 20MHZ to 15MHZ. They were done very fast but when it’s about consumers such as fixing the maximum price in advance then the agenda is stalled.
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