MUMBAI: The Consumer Electronics Traders and Manufacturers Association wants basic customs duty on set top boxes to stay at 10 per cent which will prevent fly by night operators to enter and affect the Indian manufacturing industry.
 

CETMA has also asked for zero per cent excise duty on finished goods and components like RF modulators and the Network Interface Module. This will lower upfront costs for the operators and hence subscribers, enable quicker penetration in metros and non metros and faster implementation, earn more revenue for the government from service charges and service taxes.

CETMA would also like sales tax to be at four per cent, preventing fly by night operators and grey market from affecting legitimate sales of the Indian manufacturer. The association also wants a lead time of 90 days from the date of commercially clear purchase order for the delivery of the STBs. 

The implementation committee, says CETMA, should comprise of all relevant and affected parties, like CETMA, broadcasters, MSOs, cable ops, government and consumer interest groups. As regards BIS compliance for the STBs, CETMA says self regulation by manufacturers is suggested by putting a sticker mentioning 'BIS compliant'. BIS could then randomly pick up and test STBs deployed, says CETMA.