The goose that lays the golden egg, with income about 2.6 times higher than expenditure.
Representative Lee Sang-hwi said, “We need to introduce a fair competition system for radio station inspection work by improving the system.”
As independent inspection has become difficult to handle due to the increase in 5G wireless stations, it has been pointed out that there is a need for diversification of wireless station inspection agencies.
Lee Sang-hwi, a member of the People Power Party National Assembly (Pohang Nam, Ulleung), announced during the National Assembly audit of the Korea Communications Agency (KCA) on the 10th that KCA has been exclusively carrying out wireless station inspection work for 43 years.
KCA Korea Communications Agency. Yonhap News
KCA is exclusively carrying out radio station inspection work delegated and entrusted by the Ministry of Science and ICT based on the Radio Wave Act.
It was initially commissioned by the Radio Workers Association, the predecessor of KCA, in May 1981, and has been exclusively carrying out radio station inspection work for 43 years since then.
Problems with KCA’s monopoly on wireless station inspection work were also pointed out in the 2017 government audit, but it continues to operate monopolistically even after seven years.
According to data submitted by KCA, the average annual income from radio station inspection over the past five years is 42.73 billion won.
On the other hand, expenditures for radio station inspection, including measuring equipment, inspection vehicle operating costs, and local headquarters business operation costs, amount to an average of 16.16 billion won per year, which is 2.6 times higher than income.
In particular, considering the increase in inspection volume, it was found that diversification of inspection agencies is necessary to provide stable 5G services.
People Power Party National Assembly member Lee Sang-hwi
Currently, the total number of wireless stations of the three mobile communication companies is 1,695,000 stations, including 5G (as of July 2024), and the annual number of regular inspections of wireless stations conducted every 5 years is approximately 339,000 stations (1,695,000 stations divided by 5 years). )am.
However, according to Representative Lee Sang-hwi’s analysis, the number of stations that KCA can inspect per year is approximately 240,000, and it is extremely insufficient and difficult for KCA to carry out regular inspection of radio stations alone.
KCA’s annual inspection capacity was calculated as 240,000 countries ≒ 247 days (per person working days per year)
Rep. Lee Sang-hwi (pictured) said, “Wireless station inspection does not require advanced technical skills, but it is possible to conduct sufficient inspections as long as you can operate high-precision measuring equipment.” He added, “43 is the goose that lays the golden egg, which has about 2.6 times higher income compared to expenditure.” He strongly criticized KCA, saying, “I’ve had it for years.”
In addition, “Other industrial fields related to the life and safety of the people, such as automobile, environment, food, and building inspection, are also diversifying and operating inspection work in the private sector,” he said. “Government agencies such as the Ministry of Science and ICT and KCA manage inspection standards and appoint consignment companies.” “We need to improve the system through supervision and evaluation to introduce a fair competition system,” he argued.
Pohang = Reporter Lee Young-gyun lyg0203@segye.com
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Source: www.segye.com
