NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India today justified the issuance of the regulations relating to tariff, interconnect and quality of service regulations relating to digital addressable system on the ground that this will bring transparency in the system.
In a hurriedly-called press meet, principal advisor Sunil Gupta said the aim was to bring in a fair and equitable share of revenue to all stakeholders.
However, the regulator refused to comment on whether it had the jurisdiction to issue any or all the orders as the matter was sub-judice in the Madras High Court.
The Supreme Court, while allowing an appeal by TRAI on 3 March and vacating the stay order, had said that the Madras High Court could continue hearing the case. However, it said the case in the High Court would continue and would have to be completed within sixty days.
Both channels were also given leave to amend their petitions in the event of TRAI issuing any orders.
The petition had been filed by Star India and Vijay TV under the Copyright Act on the ground that TRAI could not give any directives that will affect the content since that did not fall in its purview.
Apart from the Tariff order which had been issued on 10 October last year, the regulator also issued the DAS Interconnect Regulations which had been issued on 14 October last year, and the Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Digital Addressable Systems) Regulations which had been issued on 10 October last year.
A cursory glance shows that the regulator has stuck to its draft with some incidental changes.
The orders can be seen at:
http://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Tariff_Order_English_3%20March_2017.pdf
http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/QOS_Regulation_03_03_2017.pdf
http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Interconnection_Regulation_03_mar_2917.pdf
Also read:
TRAI tariff & quality of services regulations
