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The board of the national telecom regulator has assigned its administrative office to study a possible fee reduction for type-3 licences, the aim being to ease the regulatory cost burden on major licensees amid the declining economy.

Takorn Tantasit, deputy-secretary general of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), said the board understood the situation of the licensees.

Type-3 licences are for major operators with their own dedicated telecom networks. TOT and CAT Telecom are among the licence holders.

The licence costs each holder around 2.5 per cent of its annual revenue.

The board also asked the office to study a possible reduction in fixed-telephone and mobile-phone number fees from the present Bt2 per number per month, Takorn said.

In a separate matter, the NTC revoked the licences of 12 Internet service providers that have carried out no business activity at all since being granted licences one year ago. Among the 12 are TT&T, I-2-Phone and True Asset Communication.

The NTC has granted more than 100 Internet service business licences over the past four years.

Takorn added that regarding the NTC's preparation to regulate the community-radio sector, its broadcasting committee had already submitted to the watchdog the time frame for developing licensing regulations.

The panel will educate the public on the NTC's role in the sector this month and next, before drawing up the licensing regulations by end-January.

The watchdog is then expected to grant one-year licences between April and December.

Article 90 of the Broadcasting Act empowers the NTC to oversee the community-radio and cable-TV sectors on an interim basis, pending establishment of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.