The lame-duck NBTC board is likely to get Section 44 approval to remain in office indefinitely. NBTC commissioner Prawit Leesathapornwongsa said the existing NBTC board has no choice but to consider the auction draft on April 25 because the issue is critical. On April 11, the NBTC board suspended consideration of the draft terms of reference for the 1800- and 850MHz auctions, citing the need for approval by the new NBTC board, which was expected to be settled Thursday by the NLA. NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith declined to comment about the possibility of Section 44 being invoked to ensure the full authority of the existing NBTC board. The Council of State previously said the existing board does have the authority to conduct the auction but the board members are divided on the issue.

Source: Bangkok Post April 19, 2018 21:45 UTC