law: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act,1997
  11. Functions of Authority
   4  [(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian
  
  Telegraph Act, 1885, the functions of the Authority shall be to -
  (a) make recommendations, either suo motu or
  
  on a request from the licensor, on the following matters, namely: -
  (i) need and timing
  
  for introduction of new service provider;
  (ii) terms and
  
  conditions of license to a service provider;
  (iii) revocation of license for non-compliance
  
  of terms and conditions of license;
  (iv) measures to facilitate competition and
  
  promote efficiency in the operation of telecommunication services so as to
  
  facilitate growth in such services;
  (v) technological improvements in the services
  
  provided by the service providers;
  (vi) type of equipment to be used by the
  
  service providers after inspection of equipment used in the network;
  (vii) measures for the development of
  
  telecommunication technology and any other matter relatable to
  
  telecommunication industry in general;
  (viii) efficient
  
  management of available spectrum;
  (b) discharge the following functions, namely:
  
  -
  (i) ensure compliance
  
  of terms and conditions of license;
  (ii) notwithstanding anything contained in the
  
  terms and conditions the license granted before the commencement of the Telecom
  
  Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Act, 2000, fix the terms and
  
  conditions of inter-connectivity between the service providers;
  (iii) ensure technical compatibility and
  
  effective inter-connection between different service providers;
  (iv) regulate arrangement amongst service
  
  providers of sharing their revenue derived from providing telecommunication
  
  services;
  (v) lay-down the standards of quality of
  
  service to be provided by the service providers and ensure the quality of
  
  service and conduct the periodical survey of such service provided by the
  
  service providers so as to protect interest of the consumers of
  
  telecommunication service;
  (vi) lay-down and ensure the time period for
  
  providing local and long distance circuits of telecommunication between
  
  different service providers;
  (vii) maintain register of inter-connect
  
  agreements and of all such other matters as may be provided in the regulations;
  
  
  (viii) keep register maintained under clause
  
  (vii) open for inspection to any member of public on payment of such fee and
  
  compliance of such other requirement as may be provided in the regulations;
  (ix) ensure effective
  
  compliance of universal service obligations;
  (c) levy fees and other charges at such rates
  
  and in respect of such services as may be determined by regulations;
  (d) perform such other functions including
  
  such administrative and financial functions as may be entrusted to it by the
  
  Central Government or as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this
  
  Act:
  PROVIDED that the recommendations of the Authority
  
  specified in clause (a) of this sub-section shall not be binding upon the
  
  Central Government:
  PROVIDED FURTHER that the Central Government shall seek the
  
  recommendations of the Authority in respect of matters specified in sub-clauses
  
  (i) and (ii) of clause (a) of this sub-section in respect of new license to be
  
  issued to a service provider and the Authority shall forward its
  
  recommendations within a period of sixty days from the date on which that
  
  Government sought the recommendations:
  PROVIDED also that the Authority may request the
  
  Central Government to furnish such information or documents as may be necessary
  
  for the purpose of making recommendations under sub-clauses (i) and (ii) of
  
  clause (a) of this sub-section and that Government shall supply such
  
  information within a period of seven days. from receipt of such request:
  PROVIDED also that the Central Government may issue a
  
  license to a service provider if no recommendations are received from the
  
  Authority within the period specified in the second proviso or within such
  
  period as may be mutually agreed upon between the Central Government and the
  
  Authority:
  PROVIDED also that if the Central Government, having
  
  considered that recommendation of the Authority, comes to a prima facie
  
  conclusion that such recommendation cannot be accepted or needs modifications,
  
  it shall refer the recommendation back to the Authority for its
  
  reconsideration, and the Authority may, within fifteen days from the date of
  
  receipt of such reference, forward to the Central Government its recommendation
  
  after considering the reference made by that Government. After receipt of
  
  further recommendation if any, the Central Government shall take a final
  
  decision.]
  (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Telegraph
  
  Act, 1885 (13 of 1885), the Authority may, from time to time, by order, notify
  
  in the Official Gazette the rates at which the telecommunication services
  
  within India and outside India shall be provided under this Act including the
  
  rates at which messages shall be transmitted to any country outside India:
  PROVIDED that the Authority may notify different rates
  
  for different persons or class of persons for similar telecommunication
  
  services and where different rates are fixed as aforesaid the Authority shall
  
  record the reasons therefor.
  (3) While discharging its functions 12[under
  
  sub-section (1) or sub-section (2)], the Authority shall not act against the
  
  interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State,
  
  friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality.
  (4) The Authority shall ensure transparency while exercising its
  
  powers and discharging its functions.