Three FCC Commissioners Clarify Legal Standing Amidst Special Meeting Controversies

Key summary

On October 24, 2026, three commissioners of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in Thailand—Mr. Supach Saphasit, Air Vice Marshal Thanapan Yaiyacharin, and Ms. Pirongrong Ramsoot—provided a detailed explanation regarding a special meeting held under legal frameworks. They addressed disputes concerning the status of Dr. Saran Boonbai-chaiyapruk, whose position was deemed vacant by the Selection Committee's ruling upheld by the Central Administrative Court, and the authority of the remaining commissioners to proceed with meetings and administrative duties. The commissioners affirmed that the special meeting, which included four sessions, was conducted according to regulations, including selecting a chairperson from among the members when the original president could not attend. They denied allegations regarding the deletion of audio recordings, stating that minutes and audio records were kept for all sessions. Additionally, they highlighted issues with administrative support staff availability and called for swift implementation of approved resolutions to prevent disruption to public interest services.