TRAI CHIEF DEFENDS PESKY CALLS RULES

Amid a disquiet in the industry over new unsolicited commercial communication norms, TRAI has asserted that it operated within its mandate to tighten rules for curbing pesky calls and messages, a menace which goes beyond harassment into the realm of defrauding customers.

Coming out in strong defence of the freshly-minted regulations, outgoing TRAI Chairman R S Sharma told PTI that if any of the stakeholders felt that the said rules were illegal or beyond the regulator's mandate, they were free to seek legal remedies.

“We don't think we have exceeded any mandate. If some party feels it is not legal they can approach appropriate legal forum. We are concerned about the menace of pesky calls with regard to consumers. It is not merely about harassment, it goes beyond that...People are being duped financially with financial tips, and both SEBI and RBI had written to us,” Sharma said.

Stating that the problem of unsolicited calls and messages from telemarketers, required “everyone's cooperation”, Sharma said that the argument that other markets have not leveraged blockchain-based solutions to address the issue could not be used to say that India should not go for it.

“... It is a win-win situation for every stakeholder in the value chain except those illegal (indulging in illegal activities) or unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) players who are doing it beyond the law. It will help everyone except those who indulge in cheating and harassment,” Sharma said in a recent interview.

Sharma also cleared the air around w hat the regulations would mean for TRAI's stand-off with tech titan Apple. In response to a question, Sharma emphasised that the regulations mention that customers must be enabled to report complaints for pesky calls, through various means, not just limited to TRAI's do-not disturb app.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India