NBTC: Cash coupon distribution is not against law

BANGKOK, May (TNA) - Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) says although the state will lose more than 10 billion baht in revenue from its plan to distribute discount coupons for Set Top Box to television owners to help them view TV digital system, the plan is lawful. NBTC Deputy Board Chairman Colonel Nathi Sukolrat told journalists that the money spent on the distribution of coupons was derived from recent auctions of 24 digital television channels and it should, thus, be “returned to the public” to enable them to view digital TV system, now running on a trial basis. Colonel Nathi's remarks were made after criticisms by a consumer protection network that the state could lose more than 10 billion baht from the distribution of discount coupons, which might be against the law. Colonel Nathi revealed that the distribution of coupons is scheduled to be held during the upcoming "NBTC Expo 2014", set to be organized at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok from July 17-20, 2014. NBTC has set the standard for Set Top Box for households owning the analogue system and wishing to convert to digital system. The box is of DVB-T2 type and Thailand is the first country in the world to use this kind of standard box. (TNA)