NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has announced extension of the last date to 31 January for receiving the views of stakeholders on its consultation paper relating to interconnection regulation in non-addressable cable TV sector.
The paper had been issued on 27 December 2010 and written comments had been sought from stakeholders by 15 January 2011 and counter comments by 20 January. Stakeholders can file counter comments by 7 February.
Trai had asked cable operators and other stakeholders in the broadcasting sector to specify the changes they want in the interconnection regulations for the non-addressable television sector which have often led to prolonged litigation.
In the consultation paper on the issue, Trai had specifically said there is need to make certain amendments to the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection Regulation 2004, amended from time to time, which are based on negotiated subscriber base which has not been effective at the ground level resulting in a number of disputes between the service providers.
The Authority recently reviewed the tariff related issues in the entire broadcasting sector and during the discussions found that the stakeholders wanted a review of the Interconnection Regulation in the light of difficulties and consequent litigation that results from time to time.
The consultation paper would look at disputes on subscriber base between broadcaster and cable operators and multi-system operators (MSO) during the course of a contract.
The consultation paper discusses the extant regulatory provisions and a possible solution to the issue.
Trai has invited inputs from the stakeholders which can form the basis for review and amendment of the existing interconnection regulatory framework for the cable TV industry in the country to make it more responsive to the challenges posed by the present market conditions.
Primarily, Trai wants to know if the stakeholders agree with the proposal to amend the prevailing interconnect regulation between broadcaster and MSO in the light of various suggestions made by it and the appropriate date for implementation of the proposed scheme of interconnection between the service providers in 2011.
