Function

Functions Performed by the Offices of Controller of Communication Accounts (CCA)

The Offices of the Controller of Communication Accounts (CCAs) act as crucial field units of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India. They serve as the financial and administrative backbone for numerous functions ranging from pension management to revenue collection, spectrum fee monitoring, and USO fund disbursement. These offices have evolved to bridge the gap between the Government and various stakeholders in the telecom ecosystem, ensuring financial accountability, policy implementation, and stakeholder support at the grassroots level.

The broad functions of CCA offices can be classified under the following four major categories:

A) Statutory Functions

These are legally mandated responsibilities executed under various government rules and acts.

1. Pension Management

With the introduction of Rule 37(A) of the CCS Pension Rules, the Government is responsible for paying pensions to erstwhile Government employees who were absorbed in PSUs. CCA offices:

  • Budget for pension expenditures.
  • Authorize retirement benefits both under CDA (Central Dearness Allowance) and IDA (Industrial Dearness Allowance) pay scales.

2. Pension Contribution & Leave Salary

CCA offices collect, verify, and monitor pension contributions and leave salary recoveries due to the Government from departments and autonomous bodies.

3. National Pension System (NPS)

Since the introduction of NPS from 01.01.2004, CCAs:

  • Prepare monthly contribution statements (Government + employee share).
  • Transfer contributions to the Trustee Bank.
  • Upload data to NSDL’s NPSCAN system.
  • Reconcile monthly contribution amounts with Central Accounting Cell (CAC) figures.

4. GPF and Long-Term Loans Accounting

CCA offices maintain the accounts of:

  • General Provident Fund (GPF).
  • Long-term advances and loans to employees.
  • Recovery and reconciliation of these amounts.

5. Post-Audit of Pension Payments

Post-disbursement audits are conducted by CCAs on payments made by banks and post offices to pensioners to ensure correctness and compliance.

6. RTI Implementation

CCA officers function as:

  • Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs).
  • Departmental Appellate Authorities (DAAs)
    for timely and effective handling of RTI (Right to Information) Act, 2005 related matters.

7. PAO & DDO Functions

CCA offices serve as Pay and Accounts Offices (PAO) and Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDO) for field units such as:

  • TERM Cells
  • WMO (Wireless Monitoring Organization)
  • RLOs (Regional Licensing Offices)

8. State of Work Reports

Every month, CCAs compile and submit a "State of Work Report" by the 12th to the Directorate, outlining key activities and performance metrics.

9. Reconciliation of RBI Balances

  • Monthly reconciliation of RBI booked balances.
  • Resolution of discrepancies.
  • Preparation of the Annual Review of Balances Statement after account closure each year.

B) Revenue Functions

These involve monitoring and collection of revenues owed to the Government by telecom licensees and service providers.

1. Licence Fee Collection

CCA offices are responsible for collecting licence fees from over 1,070 licensees, including:

  • Cellular, Basic, UASL, NLD, ILD
  • VSAT, PMRTS, ISPs (with/without telephony)
  • Captive VSAT, CMRTS, and radio/microwave link operators

2. Scrutiny of Financial Documents

  • Verification of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) statements.
  • Examination of affidavits submitted by licensees.
  • Verification of deduction claims by CMTS and USAL operators.

3. Bank Guarantees

  • Maintenance and verification of Performance and Financial Bank Guarantees.
  • Initiation of encashment procedures in cases of default or non-renewal.

4. Assessment and Calculation of Licence Fees

  • Based on Audited Annual Financial Statements.
  • For ILD, NLD, PMRTS, VSAT, ISPs, CMRTS, Captive VSAT, and others.
  • Calculations are also done based on operational units (channels, terminals, etc.).

C) Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC)

CCAs handle spectrum-related financials under guidelines issued by DoT:

1. Collection of Spectrum Charges

  • GSM operators: From 01.04.2004
  • CDMA operators: From 01.04.2005
  • BSNL & MTNL: From 01.07.2005

Spectrum fees are collected based on revenue share agreements, and CCAs provide:

  • Payment challans.
  • Clarifications to operators.
  • Assistance in policy compliance.

All related Office Memorandums (OMs) are available on the WFD link of DoT’s website.

D) Universal Service Obligation (USO) Disbursement

The USO Fund, operational since 01.04.2002, aims to extend telecom services to underserved areas.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Verification of claims submitted by service providers before fund disbursement.
  • On-ground inspections to ensure infrastructure (e.g., towers) is in place.
  • Monitoring rollout of Mobile Phase-I scheme (~7,871 towers in remote/rural areas).
  • Acting as liaison points between USO Fund Administration, State Governments, Implementing Partners, and local authorities.

E) Administrative Functions

1. Departmental DDO Functions

  • Disbursal and budgeting for WMO and VTM field offices.
  • Head of Department (HOD)-level responsibilities in administrative and legal matters.

2. Handling Legal Cases

CCA offices represent the Government in court cases related to:

  • Pension and absorption disputes.
  • Licence fee and spectrum charge matters.

3. Pension Adalats

Regularly organize Pension Adalats – grievance redressal forums where pensioners can directly resolve issues in a single-window platform.

4. Internal Check and Inspections

As per DoT guidelines (OM No. 1-1/2003/DDG (A/C)/ICU dated 23.07.2008), CCAs now conduct internal audits of:

  • Non-CCA field units like TERM(LSA), WMO, etc., within  jurisdiction.

Conclusion

Over the years, CCA offices have grown from being accounting units to becoming multi-functional service centers managing the financial and administrative health of India’s telecom ecosystem. Their scope spans across revenue assurance, pension and personnel welfare, regulatory compliance, and public service delivery. With increasing digitization and expanding responsibilities, the CCA offices continue to play a vital role in strengthening transparency, accountability, and governance in the Department of Telecommunications.