DOT is planning to allot about Rs. 5,000 crore as subsidy from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)to the telecom operators for providing broadband services in the rural areas.
The USO Fund is having Rs.16,803.84 crores in its kitty at present. The USO Fund was started in 2002 to subsidise for providing of landlines in the rural areas which are loss making. On the pressure of the private companies, the subsidy was extended to mobiles also. Now it is extended to providing broadband in the rural areas.
Tender is to be submitted by the telecom companies for getting the subsidy. BSNL is number one in broadband services. BSNL Management has to take immediate action to ensure that appropriate and aggressive tenders are submitted for getting maximum subsidy from the USOF.

All the seven Telecom Factories were part of the conversion to BSNL. They are at Alipore, Gopalpur, Kharagpur, Mumbai, Jabalpur, Richai and Bhilai. BSNLEU had demanded earlier that they should be named as BSNL factories and it was agreed. But unfortunately, it seems that the management has forgotten about this change and the old name continues.
The workers demand that the name should be changed from Telecom Factories to BSNL Factories. It is the correct and appropriate name.

Have you given the CHQ Building Fund? This is a question I want to ask the members of the BSNLEU throughout the country.THe All India Conference of BSNLEU held at Thiruvananthapuram unanimously decided to purchase a Union Office Building for CHQ at Delhi and it was also decided that donations be collected from all the members for the same. The target was Rs. three crore so that a suitable building can be purchased for accommodating the office as also stay for some comrades who are on deputation to CHQ. There should be some space for comrades who are coming to Delhi for various reasons. The amount to be collected from each member was only Rs.300/-
Though it is more than one year after the AIC and the workers have got a very good wage revision and Promotion Policy resulting in about 4 to 5 thousand ruppees monthly, it is unfortunate that only Rs. 1.5 crore only has been received so far. If every BSNLEU member had donated it would have easily be more than Rs. four crore. This indicates that even half of the members have not donated or all the donations collected by the Branches/Districts have not reached the headquarters. The chanes are that the donations have not been collected in many centres. While the worker has benefitted much due to the initiative of the union, why the worker is reluctant to donate a meagre amount? It seems that many leaders at the local/district level have not taken the initiative to collect the donation.
Whatever be the reason, it has become a very difficult situation for the CHQ. Unless sufficient donation is received,either we will have to take loan from bank or take the meagre fixed deposits of the union. Both will entail much difficulty. If all the remaining members also donate immediately that will be quite sufficient for purchasing the building.
I would request each and every worker who has not donated so far to rise to the occasion and remit the donation immediately and help the CHQ to purchase the building thus implementing the All India Conference decision.

There was always the question whether the use of mobile phone have adverse radiation effects. While one section of opinion was that the radiation from cell phones was not dangerous, the other section was of a different opinion. Now the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned the people who the radiation from the mobile phones can be cancerous. The radio frequency used for mobiles are capable of risks of malignant type of brain cancer.
The news has created fears and apprehensions. However further details are awaited.

Today I met the Director (HR) Shri A.K.Garg on behalf of the JAC and discussed about the urgent necessity of procuring the mobile lines and other equipments. I expressed strong protest against the cancellation of the tender of 5.5 million mobile equipments, which will adversely affect the growth of BSNL.
Director (HR) assured that the 15 million mobile equipments orders will be issued soon and that drop wire, modem, cables etc will be procured with out further delay and provided to the field. I emphasised that these purchase orders have to be issued expeditiously.
The transfer of GM Bongaigaon for his anti-developmental and anti-JAC actions was demanded on behalf of the JAC.

The 4 lakh coal workers are preparing for a nationwide strike on their long pending demands including the wage revision due in 2011. The National Convention held at Nagpur on 11 May 2011 organised by the Central Trade Unions viz. INTUC, AITUC, CITU, BMS and HMS decided to prepare for the strike. The date of the strike will be decided in the next National convention to be held at Ranchi on 21st June 2011.
Coal industry is one of the biggest PSU in the country employing maximum workers. They have achieved 5 year wage agreement and is preparing for the next wage agreement. Our full support and solidarity to their struggle.

The DOT has revised the norms for grant of licences to the telecom companies. One of the most important conditions stipulated is that Indian Nationals only should be appointed for managing the networks. This is part of the government’s security concerns. Another condition placed is that all documents should be in English.
At the same time, the Government does not insist on sharing the source code to favour the European companies who are not prepared to furnish the same as was done by the Chinese companies.

After 5 months of introduction of MNP (Mobile Number Portability ), the Idea Cellular has benefitted maximum with more than 6 lakh additional connections from other companies. Its port out is 8,83,369 and port in 15,22,429 thus having an advantage of 6,39,060 connections. Vodafone and Airtel are the second and third beneficiaries.
Reliance is the biggest loser with 11,29,228 connections lost. BSNL and MTNL is the second with a loss of 5,66,850 their port in being 3,05,634 and port out 8,72,484. Tata and Videocon are also on the losing side.