It's instructive to look at the time-lines for issuing wireless licenses for highly sensitive -- and potentially national-security threatening -- uses like, say, community radio on the one hand, and for inconsequential billion dollar pan-India services like telecom on the other.
27 Oct 2003: TRAI releases recommendations for award of new UAS License 31 Oct 2003: Cabinet approves TRAI recommendations on UASL 12 Nov 2003: Tata applies for UASL licenses 24 Nov 2003: DoT approves Tatas' application 30 Jan 2004: Tata gets UAS License Three months from start to finish. 19 August 2000: Deccan Development Society (DDS) applies for CR license 11 January 2002: DDS application turned down by govt. 9 Dec 2004: TRAI recommendations on Community Radio 16 Nov 2006: Cabinet approves TRAI recommendations on CR 9 July 2007 (approx): DDS application 'sent for clearance' 15 Oct 2008: DDS receives wireless license and starts broadcasting Well, that was quick. Between 'sent for clearance' and issue of WoL, there's usually a couple of years. The recent Justice Shivraj Patil Committee Report on spectrum allocation and licensing has some pretty caustic comments about the role of WPC in steadfastly looking the other way when decisions were made "in the matter of formulation of procedures involving criteria for allotment of spectrum and its pricing." Naming names, the report goes on to say that "it was the responsibility of Wireless Advisor/WPC Wing to have reviewed spectrum utilization as also revised NFAP every two years", which of course it didn't. Doesn't. Or doesn't let us know if it does. In his recommendations, Justice Patil says: 8.1.(xiv): There is a greater need for transparency about spectrum allocation and assignment. As a first step, the DoT should put in public domain, spectrum allocations made to various agencies with details of quantum, geographical locations, technology employed etc. This information should be widely advertised on website and should be regularly updated. I wouldn't hold my breath. It is not for nothing that the Terms of Reference in the Govt OM setting up the one-man committee specifically calls upon Justice Patil to suggest "remedial measures to avoid in future." Sajan The full report <http://www.dot.gov.in/miscellaneous/OMC/report.pdf> and annexures can be accessed here: http://www.dot.gov.in/miscellaneous/OMC/OMC.htm
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