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Updated Monday, February 8, 2010 9:31 am TWN, The China Post news staff

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NCC has power and obligation to protect people's rights

On the other hand, the government should ensure that their crackdown on service charges is sensible and well founded. A mere populist slash is nothing but a sacrifice of the telecom industry's development for short term gains. Whether the confrontation between the carriers and the NCC is just a staring game or a genuine debate on the future of Taiwan telecom is yet to be determined. To make their case, the carriers should come up with reasonable price cut plans by March and be more transparent to convince the public and the government. The public has to know the detailed financial situation of the companies.

More public education on the wireless base stations, which cause many fears for the potentially harmful electromagnetic waves, can also help lower the public's concern and thereby the cost of installing these stations.

In addition to demanding price cuts, there are many other ways the NCC can ensure a fairer deal for the people. One of the most obvious measures is to streamline the procedures with which carriers deal with their subscribers.

A 2009 survey by 104 Job Bank showed that over 70 percent of the public has never switched carriers. Part of the reasons behind such lack of customer mobility is that people are put off by complicated requirements to end their subscription or high early termination fees. Mind-puzzlingly complex service packages and phone bill details also keep customers from learning the true cost of the service they sign up for.

In January, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission required American telecom companies to explain the way they inform their customers about early termination fees to ensure that people are fully aware of such details when they sign their contract.

By closely monitoring the carriers' interaction with customers and requiring a more compact subscription compact, the government can give the people the right to better choose their carriers and to better decide whether they have been overcharged. It will free the carriers from the worries of a governmental price-setter.

A more open business environment will also give the carriers no choice but to be more competitive by providing more reasonable prices and better services. It is a win-win solution for both the people and the long term development of the island's telecom industry.

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