| (a) |
to
ensure that the telecommunication services in the
country are operated in a manner which will best
serve and contribute to its overall economic and
social development and advancement; |
| (b) |
to
advise the Minister in the granting of licences
to operate telecommunication systems under this
Act; |
| (c) |
to
advise the government on matters relating to telecommunication
including policies on tariffs, pricing and subsidies
and legislative measures required for the provision
of public telecommunication services; |
| (d) |
to
pay due regard to the public interest and the convenience
and wishes of the general public as regards the
telecommunication services provided by an operator; |
| (e) |
to
comply with such general policy directions as may
be given from time to time by the Minister regarding
the performance of the duties and exercise of the
powers of the Commission, and furnish such information
as may be required by him in accordance with the
provisions of section 67; |
| (f) |
to
take such regulatory measures as may be prescribed
to comply with any general or special directions
that may be given to it from time to time by the
Government of Sri Lanka in the interest of national
security, public order and the defence of the country; |
| (g) |
to
direct any operator to comply with requirements
laid down by the International Telecommunication
Union and other relevant International Organisations
in respect of both equipment and technical standards; |
| (h) |
to
ensure compliance by operators with international
or other obligations entered into by the Government
of Sri Lanka in relation to telecommunication; |
| (i) |
to
assist any Ministry where requested, in the conduct
of negotiations to establish agreements with the
International Telecommunication Union, other foreign
telecommunication operators and international telecommunication
organizations, regarding standards and procedures
for the establishment of a telecommunication system; |
| (j) |
where
so required at the request of the Minister or of
any other relevant Ministry, to represent the Government
in international conferences or international and
foreign bodies concerned with telecommunication; |
|
(k) |
to
determine in consultation with the Minister, the
tariffs or methods for determining such tariffs,
taking into account government policy and the requirements
of the operators in respect of the telecommunication
services provided by the operators: provided that
the tariff rates, call charges and other charges
in force immediately prior to the transfer date
shall continue in force and shall be deemed to be
the tariffs specified under this Act, until revised
or amended under the provisions of this Act; |
| (l) |
to
approve interconnection charges and charges for
calls between licensed interconnected telecommunication
systems where operators of those systems are able
to agree on such charges, and to determine such
charges where operators are unable to agree; |
| (m) |
to
require operators of telecommunication systems to
adopt such accounting systems as may be approved
by the Commission; |
| (n) |
to
require any operator to submit to it transmission
plans, signalling plans, switching and numbering
plans and to approve or modify such plans as well
as to publish and ensure compliance with such plans;
|
| (o) |
to
specify technical standards and procedures for the
provision of telecommunication services; |
| (p) |
to
specify standards for the education and training
or technical manpower in telecommunication; |
| (q) |
to
approve types of telecommunication apparatus which
may be connected to a telecommunication system;
|
| (r) |
to
take such regulatory measures including the issue
of directives as may be deemed necessary to monitor
the quality of services provided by operators and
to ensure that these services conform to standards
relating to quality of service specified by rules
made under this Act; |
| (s) |
to
promote, in co-operation with the operators or otherwise,
research and development in telecommunication at
universities and research institutes in Sri Lanka;
|
| (t) |
to
establish such advisory bodies as may be deemed
necessary for the purpose of advising it on any
matter pertaining to the exercise, performance and
discharge of the powers, functions and duties of
the Commission under this Act; |
| (u) |
to
negotiate with any public corporation or other person,
for the prevention of any obstruction or interference
with a radio beam or any communication facility
or for the removal of any such obstruction or interference;
|
| (v) |
to
ensure the conservation and proper utilisation of
the radio frequency spectrum by operators and other
organisations and individuals who need to use radio
frequencies; |
| (w) |
to
make and enforce compliance with rules to minimise
electro-magnetic disturbances produced by electrical
apparatus and all unauthorised radio frequency emissions;
and |
| (x) |
to
do all such other acts which may be incidental or
conducive to, the attainment of the objects of the
Commission or the exercise or discharge of its powers
and duties under this Act. |
