DoT releases draft Right of Way rules for feedback

The Department of Telecommunication on Wednesday released draft right of way rules under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, for public feedback over 30 days. Application timelines shortened for RoW over public property Under the draft rules, if the public entity intends to accept the facility provider’s application for RoW for laying underground or overground telecom network on public property, it has to grant permission within 67 calendar days of receipt of application. If the application is rejected, the public entity must refund 80% of the fee paid under rule 6 by the facility provider within 15 calendar days of such rejection. In case of overground telecom network, the public entity must also specify the compensation to be paid by the facility provider if the telecom network renders the public property unuseable for any other purpose. The facility provider must restore the underground telecom network within 60 calendar days from the date of reporting the damage to the public entity.