3 NBTC Commissioners Demand USO Project Probe

Matichon•Politics•18m ago

Reader Briefing

Three NBTC commissioners demand a transparency probe into a 5.4 billion baht USO project after a board meeting failed to convene.

•The NBTC meeting 25/2026 on September 16 failed due to a lack of quorum.
•Three commissioners are requesting an investigation into 5 USO contracts valued at 5,423.7 million baht.
•Commissioners Pirongrong Ramsut, Thanaphan Raijaroen, and Supat Supachalasil demand a meeting structure consisting of 6 commissioners as per the law.

•On September 16, the NBTC meeting 25/2026 could not be opened because the quorum was not met.
•Lt. Gen. Thanaphan Raijaroen stated that only NBTC Chairman Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruek attended the meeting.
•Lt. Gen. Thanaphan Raijaroen assigned a personal secretary to send a letter to the NBTC Office requesting transparency regarding 5 USO contracts worth over 5,423.7 million baht.
•Prof. Emeritus Dr. Pirongrong Ramsut cited Section 15, paragraph one of the Frequency Allocation Act and an Administrative Court order from August 31 as reasons for not joining the meeting with the current chairman.
•Prof. Emeritus Dr. Pirongrong Ramsut denied playing politics and stated the goal is simply for the meeting to proceed without obstacles.
•The USO project was approved by the board on May 23, 2024, but questions remain regarding the authority of the NBTC Secretary-General to announce auction winners for items exceeding 200 million baht.
•Prof. Emeritus Dr. Pirongrong Ramsut expressed concern over delayed agendas regarding digital TV master plans and roadmaps that expire in 2029.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Pirongrong Ramsut

"We are not playing politics; who is playing politics?"

เราไม่ได้เล่นการเมือง ใครเล่นการเมือง

NBTC(กสทช.)

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

NBTC Office(สำนักงาน กสทช.)

The office responsible for the current implementation of the USO project.

Lt. Gen. Thanaphan Raijaroen(พล.อ.ท.ธนพันธุ์ หร่ายเจริญ)

NBTC Commissioner for Broadcasting Affairs.

Prof. Emeritus Dr. Pirongrong Ramsut(ศ.กิตติคุณ ดร.พิรงรอง รามสูต)

NBTC Commissioner for Television Affairs.

Assoc. Prof. Supat Supachalasil(รองศาสตราจารย์ ศุภัช ศุภชลาศัย)

NBTC Commissioner for Economics.

Clin. Prof. Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruek(ศ.คลินิก.นพ.สรณ บุญใบชัยพฤกษ์)

The Chairman of the NBTC.

Prof. Dr. Somphop Purivikraipong(ศ.ดร.สมภพ ภูริวิกรัยพงศ์)

An NBTC commissioner who refused to attend the meeting if Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruek attended.

USO Project(โครงการ USO)

Universal Service Obligation project consisting of 5 contracts valued at over 5,423.7 million baht.

Frequency Allocation Act(พ.ร.บ.องค์กรจัดสรรคลื่นความถี่ฯ)

The act containing Section 15, paragraph one, regarding the finality of the NBTC selection committee's decision.