NBTC board leadership crisis delays regulatory decisions
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The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board failed to meet for the sixth time on August 21, 2026, due to a lack of quorum after some commissioners boycotted sessions to protest the disqualification of chairman Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck. The leadership crisis resulted in a backlog of 52 urgent items out of 881 pending agenda matters, including decisions on a national streaming platform and a digital TV roadmap. This gridlock followed the NBTC selection panel's disqualification of Dr. Sarana for failing to resign from posts prohibited by NBTC law before the deadline.
Consequences
Regulatory uncertainty continues for broadcasting and telecommunications operators, as the board remains unable to address high-profile issues such as the 2029 expiration of digital TV broadcasting licenses. Furthermore, the delay in finalizing the digital TV roadmap prevents progress on shifting from auction-based to alternative spectrum allocation models, which could impact operational costs for industry participants.
Sources
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