They will be asked to ensure a minimum internet security level of 40 DES. This, sources said, should be welcome by the ISPs as software for security above 128 DES is prohibited for export by USA.

With security being the main look-in, gateway providers may be asked to provide facilities like parallel ports for the monitoring of the incoming and outgoing traffic.

Since 100 per cent monitoring of the content round-the-clock is not feasible, the onus has been put on the companies. The committee has not taken a view on a clear-cut time-frame in which DoT will clear the applications after verifying the antecedents and background of the companies wanting to set up gateways.

However, it will take another week or two for the department of telecommunications to notify the guidelines as these were yet to be approved bysecretary Anil Kumar. The format for applications for ISPs will therefore be made public only by the month-end, sources said.

The move is significant as many private ISPs are anxiously awaiting the finalisation of norms. It has taken the committee over five months to reach a finality on the norms since the announcement of the ISP Policy in early November.

At least three category A licencees, Global Electronic Commerce Services, Bharti BT Internet and Satyam Infoway have already moved in applications for setting up of gateways, while others like Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited are also keen to set up their own gateways. Several category B and category C licencees are in turn looking to these private ISPs for connectivity.

Besides DoT, the panel has representation from ministry of defence represented by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), ministry of home, cabinet secretariat, departments of space and electronics, besides National Informatics Centre and Nasscom.

In their severalmeetings over past few months, the committee-members are believed to have had differences of opinion on crucial issues. Since its inception, the government or the committee members have not been able to nominate a chairman. Lack of a chairman has led to further delay in decision-making and formalisation of norms, sources pointed out.

There are crucial questions like the technical disclosures about the set-up of the ISPs, the port from where they will want the connectivity to the under-sea cables, the terms to be fixed with the international carriers and terms of termination which will be decided by the panel.

ISPs have expressed fear that they may be asked to go through Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited for termination and have demanded that VSNL should not be the nodal agency for the same otherwise the whole purpose of setting up the gateways could be defeated.

The issue of satellite connectivity is another wherein the committee is expected to spell out the modalities of ISPs utilising foreign satellites oftheir choice like Panamsat or Intelsat.