MUMBAI: In pursuance of the Directions of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court on implementation of CAS, the three metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata by 31 December 2006 and Chennai (where it is already in implementation), Trai has taken a number of initiatives. As part of the process of implementation and to facilitate enhanced consumer awareness, Trai has placed on its website a compilation containing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on CAS and related Orders and Regulations of TRAI.

These are meant to educate the subscribers and the general public in the four metros about CAS. The attempt is to provide answers in a language which a layman can understand, the compilation covers questions, answers to which are necessary to clear doubts and provide greater clarity. The detailed FAQs are available on Trai's website www.Trai.gov.in.

The FAQs begin with background information about Cable TV operations. Thereafter there are specific questions related to the following items:-

- Conditional Access System/Addressable System, CAS Area, Non CAS areas etc.
- Set Top Box, Smart Card, STB Tariff package etc.
- Free to air channel, pay channel, basic service tier tariff.
- Benchmarks and timelines for quality of service.

It is hoped that these answers to Frequently Asked Questions would help consumer organizations and consumers to ensure that the benefits intended to be provided to them by the various orders of the Authority are fully availed off.