The law stipulates that each of the seven NTC members will hold office for six years but they will have to draw lots to vacate three of them every third year.

The NTC, which took office in September 2004, will draw the lots next September.

NTC secretary-general Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn said that the NTC had already created its coordination panel to seek selection-committee members.

"We have to prepare right now as it will take time," Suranan said.

The coordination panel will consist of eight members, six of who are from the NTC, including Suranan himself, the deputy secretary-general, a legal specialist, the legal office director and directors for consumer protection and human resources.

The other two members are a representative from the PM's Office and a representative from the Council of State. Suranan will also be the panel's chairman.

The coordination panel will manage the nomination of the 17 members of the NTC-selection committee and examine their qualifications.

It will send a letter today to state and private organisations, which were mentioned in the frequency law, to ask them to send their representatives to become NTC selection-committee members.

The organisations have to send the representatives' names to the NTC before October 9.

Among the state and private agencies to send representatives are the Defence Ministry, the Education Ministry, the Transport Ministry, the Commerce Ministry, and Office of the National Security Council.

They also include state and private education institutes which provide telecom courses at a degree level, and professional associations in the telecom and consumer protection fields.

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation