The national telecommunications regulator may soon lose its independence and be subject to government intervention, according to a proposal of the interim government.

Information and Communications Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said the NTC was different from other independent government bodies - such as the Election Commission.

The minister said the election body had to be free of politics but the NTC was required to coordinate with the government in policing the industry.

Sitthichai said he will talk to the NTC soon.

A telecom-industry insider said it was possible the government could intervene in NTC activities because the Constitution that granted the commission its powers had been suspended after the September 19 coup.

Meanwhile, NTC chairman Choochart Promphrasid said it agreed with the government's sufficiency-economy theory and it would consider licence applications based on those ideals.

For example, the NCT would encourage fixed-line operators to expand services to less-profitable, remote areas.

It would reduce redundant investment by making licensees share networks.

"We've been listening to government policy, and I believe we'll have no problem working with the ministry" Choochart said.

Meanwhile, the NTC is struggling not to self-destruct as infighting between commissioners and bureaucrats racks the body.

While the NTC was willing to work with the government, it appeared unable to work with itself, according to a commission source.

The source claimed commissioners were at loggerheads with staff at the Office of the National Tele-communications Commission.

It is believed officials felt sidelined by commissioners who treated them as pen pushers.

They were complaining that commissioners never consulted officers when developing regulations.

The office's assigned roles include administration, collection of regulatory fees and telecom-data analysis for industry development.

NTC deputy secretary-general Kulit Sombatsiri recently resigned to become an adviser to deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongchaum.

The NTC source said Kulit felt unable to "maximise his potential at the NTC because his role was limited to administration".

There were also suggestions that other key personnel were considering quitting, including secretary-general Suranan Wongvithaya-kamjorn.

Commissioners had earlier blamed the slow pace of NTC achievement on its bureaucrats.

Telecom reporters

The Nation