TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said Thursday that delays in confirming new commissioners have left the National Communications Commission unable to perform key regulatory functions, disrupting services that affect businesses and the public.
In a Facebook post, Lin said the NCC has been unable to issue approval notices and permits since the terms of its remaining commissioners expired on July 31, per UP Media. He said the agency has delayed issuing 82 permits and four approval notices between July 31 and Wednesday.
A consumer surnamed Chen (陳), who purchased vlogging equipment from overseas, said her shipment could not clear customs because the NCC is unable to process the required approval, per UDN. She said the delay has resulted in storage fees and argued that the agency should have warned the public about the potential consequences of the staffing impasse.
The NCC said it previously addressed a lack of quorum by holding commissioner consultation meetings, per Rti. However, with no commissioners remaining, that mechanism is no longer available.
The commission added that approvals for imported and domestically manufactured regulated telecommunications radio-frequency devices are affected by its inability to operate. Lin urged lawmakers not to allow political disagreements over NCC appointments to disrupt services that affect the public.
Cabinet Spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said Thursday that because no commissioners remain in office, the Cabinet cannot appoint an acting NCC chair, per UDN. She said the Cabinet has authorized Chief Secretary Wen Chun-yu (溫俊瑜) to oversee the agency's day-to-day administrative operations.
According to people familiar with the matter, the absence of an NCC chair also prevents the agency from imposing administrative penalties because official documents require the agency's official seal and the chair's seal, per UDN.
DPP Legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) blamed the opposition for the stalled confirmation process, saying opposition lawmakers deliberately boycotted the confirmation of NCC nominees, per Liberty Times. Meanwhile, TPP Legislative Caucus Convener Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍) said the Cabinet bears responsibility for the impasse because it failed to submit a new slate of NCC nominees in time, per Liberty Times.
Looking ahead, National Chung Cheng University Professor Lo Shih-hung (羅世宏) proposed that the Cabinet retain the authority to nominate the NCC chair while incorporating opposition input through legislative caucus negotiations on nominees, UP Media. He said the current impasse reflects long-term institutional weaknesses within the NCC as well as ongoing political conflict between the ruling DPP and opposition parties in the legislature.
