Taiwan's media regulator has been left without enough commissioners to function, and scholars at a legislative hearing warned the paralysis is now hurting ordinary business and consumers.

• The Cabinet put forward new nominees for the National Communications Commission in late July, and lawmakers held a public hearing on whether to approve them.
• Academics argued parliament is free to reject unqualified nominees, but should confirm anyone who passes a proper review rather than leave the seats empty indefinitely.
• More than 700 cases are frozen — Bluetooth and radio equipment approvals, news channel ownership transfers, share and business plan reviews.
• The fight is really about press freedom: the CTi News and Mirror TV licence rulings remain contested, with critics saying the process was opaque and politically shaped.
• Opposition lawmakers also attacked the Cabinet for refusing to countersign a cable TV law passed with cross-party agreement, calling it proof the regulator's independence is hollow.

Outlook: The nominees face pressure to state clearly where they stand on the CTi licence revocation before any confirmation vote moves ahead.