Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET CONCEPT STAGE Report No.: AC1613 Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 07/18/2005 I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country: India Project ID: P093925 Project Name: IN:Rural Telecommunications Development Project Task Team Leader: Rajesh B. Pradhan Estimated Appraisal Date: February 7, 2006 Estimated Board Date: August 29, 2006 Managing Unit: CITPO Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Telecommunications (100%) Theme: Rural services and infrastructure (P);Regulation and competition policy (S) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 300.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 0.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER 50.00 50.00 B. Project Objectives [from section 2 of PCN] 1. The objective of the proposed project is to accelerate the development of rural telecommunications connectivity, where improved performance is a priority for the Government. The project will focus primarily on accelerating rural connectivity in India through assistance in regulatory policy reforms, spectrum management reforms, targeted subsidies for rural expansion, and improved standardization and certification. C. Project Description [from section 3 of PCN] 2. Project Components. In order to achieve the proposed project objective, investment and technical assistance support would be provided to: - Accelerate the rollout of telecommunications services in rural areas; - Pilot the deployment of broadband access in peri-urban and rural areas by facilitating the use of new and emerging technologies for broadband access; - Strengthen the telecommunications policy and regulatory environment, including spectrum management and monitoring, and standardization and testing activities. Page 2 3. Component 1 - Accelerated rural connectivity. This component will entail financing: (i) technical assistance support for the detailed design of programs to accelerate rural telecommunications and broadband connectivity, through output-based aid (OBA) type mechanisms that incentivize private investment; (ii) technical assistance for program implementation, management, and monitoring support; and (iii) investment support to finance the rollout of telephony and broadband services in rural areas. The lead implementing agency for this component is the Department of Telecommunications (DOT). 4. Component 2 - Strengthen telecommunications policy and spectrum management. This component will entail financing: (i) technical assistance support for telecommunications, spectrum management, and standardization policy reforms, institutional capacity building, and organizational planning and development for the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC), the Wireless Monitoring Organization (WMO), and the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC); and (ii) investment support for upgrading and expansion of the spectrum monitoring system to assist in improving spectrum management, augmentation of satellite monitoring system capacity, and enhanced standardization activities. The lead implementing agency for this component is DOT. 5. Component 3 - Strengthen telecommunications regulatory regime. This component will entail: (i) technical assistance support to enhance the institutional capabilities of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to perform its regulatory functions and to address the regulatory challenges related to accelerating rural connectivity; and (ii) requisite investment support to facilitate TRAI's ability to regulate the sector. The lead implementing agency for this component is TRAI. 6. Estimated Project Cost and Bank's lending instrument. The total cost of the project is estimated at around US$350 million over a five-year period. Proposed Bank lending would be an IBRD loan of US$300 million over that period and the instrument is a Specific Investment Loan (SIL). Government contribution is expected to be around US$50 million. No cofinancing is envisaged at this time. 7. Project management. The DOT, through a Project Coordination Unit (PCU) will be responsible for the overall coordination, implementation, and supervision of the project. The PCU will be headed by the Additional Secretary (DOT). Other members of the PCU will include Joint Secretary (DOT), Joint Secretary (TRAI), Joint Wireless Advisor Director (WPC), Director (WMO), Deputy Director General (TEC), and Joint USOF Administrator. In addition, the PCU will have a dedicated Project Director, Senior Finance Officer, Procurement Officer, and support staff to manage and implement the project. The responsibility for project implementation at each of the sub-implementing agencies will lie with a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in each agency, namely Universal Service Obligation Fund Administrator of India (USOFA), WPC/WMO, TEC, and TRAI. D. Project location (if known) 8. Selection of the locations is yet to be agreed. E. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies [from PCN] Page 3 NA. F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Frederick Edmund Brusberg (SASES) II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X 9. Environmental issues in the project are limited and minor. However, small amounts of land may be acquired to build cellular telephone towers for which some physical construction would be necessary. The bidding documents and subsequent contracts will specify that any land needed for the project will be free of squatters or encroachers and will be acquired on the real estate market on a willing buyer-willing seller basis. No involuntary land acquisition will be used. Bidding documents and contracts will also assure that appropriate environmental assessment and management measures are put in place for any physical construction carried out under the project. The environment category is rated as "B", partial assessment. Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Cultural Property (OPN 11.03) X Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN A. Target date for the Quality Enhancement Review (QER), at which time the PAD-stage ISDS would be prepared: N/A B. For simple projects that will not require a QER, the target date for preparing the PAD-stage ISDS: 06/01/2006 C. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed. The specific studies and their timing 1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS. 10. Bidding documents and contracts will assure that appropriate environmental assessment and management measures are put into place for any physical construction carried out under the project, prior to such construction. 1 Reminder: The Bank's Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the InfoShop and (ii) in-country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected persons. Page 4 IV. APPROVALS Signed and submitted by: Task Team Leader: Mr Rajesh B. Pradhan 06/28/2005 A pproved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Frederick Edmund Brusberg 07/08/2005 Comments: Sector Manager: Mr Pierre A. Guislain 06/28/2005 Comments: