Section 5. The salient features of the proposed Bill are as follows:

5. The salient features of the proposed Bill are as follows:— (i) the Authority shall consist of a Chairperson and a minimum of two and a maximum of six members; (ii) a person who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or who is or has been the Chief Justice of a High Court shall be eligible to be appointed as a Chairperson of the Authority; (iii) the members shall be persons of ability with varied experience in public utility services who have special knowledge of, and professional experience, in the field of telecommunications, industry, finance, accountancy, law, management and consumer affairs. No appointment of a person possessing qualifications, as specified above, shall be made as a member from amongst employees of the Government unless such person has held the post of Secretary or Additional Secretary or any equivalent post in the Central or State Governments for period of not less than three years; (iv) the powers and functions of the Authority, inter alia , are to- - (a) recommend the need and timing for introduction of new service provider; (b) recommend the terms and conditions of the licence to a service provider; (c) ensure technical compatibility and effective inter-connection between different service providers; (d) regulate arrangements of sharing of revenue derived from providing telecommunication services amongst service providers; (e) recommend revocation of licence for non-compliance of terms and conditions of licence; (f) ensure compliance of terms and conditions of Licence; (g) protect the interests of customers of telecommunication service; (h) settle disputes between service providers; (i) fix rates for providing telecommunication service within India and outside India; (j) ensure effective compliance of universal service obligations; (k) monitor the quality of service and conduct periodical survey of such service provided by the service providers; (l) inspect the equipment used in the network and recommend the type of equipment to be used by the service providers; (m) maintain register of inter-connect agreements and of all such other matters as may be provided in the regulations; (n) keep register maintained under clause (m) open for inspection to any member of public on payment of such fee and compliance of such other requirements as may be provided in the regulations. 6[(8) The Chairperson and the whole-time members shall not, for a period of two years from the date on which they cease to hold office as such, except with the previous approval of the Central Government, accept— (a) any employment either under the Central Government or under any State Government; or (b) any appointment in any company in the business of telecommunication services.] (9) A vacancy caused to the office of the Chairperson or any other member shall be filled up within a period of three months from the date on which such vacancy occurs. 7 * * * * *