ITV

Category: Regulators

  • Delay in promotions in Prasar Bharati not due to central budgetary grants: MoS Rathore

    Delay in promotions in Prasar Bharati not due to central budgetary grants: MoS Rathore

    NEW DELHI: The government has told Parliament that the delay in promotions is not attributable to allocation of funds by the government to Prasar Bharati.

     

    Stating this, Minister of State in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore told Parliament that a total allocation of Rs 2495.03 crore was given to Prasar Bharati for the current financial year at the budget estimates stage for plan schemes.

     

    This included salary and salary related expenses of Prasar Bharati, he said in reply to a question.

    Funds are allocated by the government to Prasar Bharati (Doordarshan and All India Radio) on the basis of budget proposals sent by this Ministry in consultation with Prasar Bharati.

     

    The budget proposals are finalised after due consultations with Prasar Bharati before being sent to the Government for allocation. 

  • Minimal growth in September in broadband usage: TRAI

    Minimal growth in September in broadband usage: TRAI

    NEW DELHI: Even as there was growth of just 1.92 per cent in broadband between the end of August and the end of September, there was a decline of 4.31 per cent in the fixed wireless subscribers (Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Point-to-Point Radio & VSAT).

     
    According to reports received by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) from the service providers, the number of broadband subscribers increased from 74.31 million at the end of August to 75.73 million at the end of September.

     
    There was marginal increase in mobile devices users (Phones and dongles) of 2.32 per cent from 58.82 million to 60.19 per cent, and a minimal growth in wired subscribers of just 0.53 per cent from 15.05 million to 15.13 million.

     
    The top five wired broadband service providers by September-end were BSNL (9.98 million), Bharti Airtel (1.40 million), MTNL (1.13 million), Beam Telecom (0.42 million) and YOU Broadband (0.41 million).

     
    The top five wireless broadband service providers were Bharti Airtel (15.44 million), Vodafone (13.55 million), Idea Cellular (10.52 million), BSNL (7.94 million) and Reliance Communications Group (6.40 million).

     

  • K. Sanjay Murthy appointed joint secretary in I&B

    K. Sanjay Murthy appointed joint secretary in I&B

    NEW DELHI: Senior Indian Administrative Service officer K Sanjay Murthy has been appointed as the joint secretary in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B).

     

    A 1989 officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, he was until now principal secretary (Food & civil supplies, Transport, & Technical Education) in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

     

    His appointment took effect from 21 November and will continue until 20 November 2019 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

     

    Ministry sources said that Murthy was expected to be given charge of films, as Raghuvendra Singh is due for transfer as his term is over. 

  • Govt. keen on early expansion of phase III of FM radio

    Govt. keen on early expansion of phase III of FM radio

    NEW DELHI: Even as the government wants to commence the expansion of phase III of FM radio to bring in additional revenue, there appears to be a re-think on the question permitting these channels to carry All India Radio news bulletins.
     

    While confirming that he was keen to start the process as soon as possible in the current financial year, Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley said about the proposal to allow broadcast of news on private FM radio stations: “Let me consider this at length.”
     

    His response was in a similar manner when asked about permitting All India Radio news bulletins on private FM stations.

     
    The Minister said his Ministry and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) are considering aspects related to this process. He said. “Some aspects are being considered between the I&B Ministry and the regulator. And I would like to see that happen quite early. If I could have my way, it should be in this financial year because I now speak in both capacities.
    31 March, and some more revenue to the government has some relevance to me,” said Jaitley,

     
    More than 800 new FM radio channels are proposed to be allowed to come up in nearly 294 cities across the country under phase III.

     
    While the previous government had cleared the carriage of AIR news bulletins on private FM channels and even given the option to the existing 245 FM channels to opt for phase III, it had halted the process of auction in view of the elections.

     
    Jaitley’s predecessor Prakash Javadekar had not only promised early e-auctions, but said that the government would consider what can be broadcast by the private FM channels on their own other than AIR news bulletins.

     

  • MSOs not ordering STBs, say manufacturers

    MSOs not ordering STBs, say manufacturers

    MUMBAI: The former Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar had emphasised the need for bringing in indigenous Set Top Boxes (STBs) and the new administration is also keen to do the same. It was with this in mind that I&B secretary Bimal Julka held a meeting with indigenous STB manufacturers recently.

    Julka said that the issue of C-Form had already been addressed by the government to ensure level playing field for the domestic manufacturers as compared to imported STBs. The meeting was to assess the readiness of the manufacturers to meet the 11 million STB requirements since they had stated that sufficient capacity had been installed.

    A meeting had also been held with the Prime Minister regarding availability of conditional access system (CAS). The issue of interoperability of STBs was also being scrutinised and a task force meeting on the same had also been held.

    The STB manufacturers informed that they have been in touch with operators for their requirements but their response has not been encouraging. According to them the operators are anticipating change in timeline of digitisation and a change in policy, leading to their slow uptake.

    The manufacturers stated that they are prepared to go head on with the imported boxes as well as have a penal clause on penalty. Since no order was coming from operators, it was a difficult task to prepare production since time was needed to receive the components from suppliers.

    Therefore, they manufacturers have requested the Ministry to facilitate a process so that MSOs look at indigenous STBs for phases III and IV of digitisation. A joint meeting between the three could be held to resolve concerns.

    Julka clarified that 2015 and 2016 are the final dates for digitisation, so there needs to be no apprehension on that front. Monitoring of the digitisation programme would be scaled up in accordance with the implementation strategy being set in the Ministry.

     

  • TRAI says get spectrum from Defence, denies Govt. has no authority to ask BSNL to return unused spectrum

    TRAI says get spectrum from Defence, denies Govt. has no authority to ask BSNL to return unused spectrum

    NEW DELHI: Expressing concern that the constrained supply of spectrum poses a real threat to the continuity of services being provided to millions of subscribers by the expiry licensees, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reiterated its earlier recommendation for a dialogue at the level of the Ministers for Finance, Communications, Defence to ensure the availability of additional spectrum for commercial use.
     
    In a letter to the Telecom Secretary, the Authority has said the non-availability of sufficient spectrum is the biggest impediment to the realisation of the stated goals in NTP- 2012 for broadband proliferation. The Authority re-emphasised the need to increase the supply of spectrum.
     
    The letter was in response to the DoT’s reference of 14 November seeking some clarifications on recommendations on Valuation and Reserve Price of Spectrum Licenses expiring in 2015-16 sent on 15 October.  
     
    There is no change in the reserve prices for spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands from what were recommended earlier.
     
    The   Authority reiterated that steps should be  taken to  make available additional spectrum in  the  900, 1800 and 2100 MHz bands by  taking back 1.2  MHz of 900 MHz spectrum from BSNL,  utilising idle  1800 MHz spectrum in  the  Defence band and vacating spectrum held in excess of 20 MHz by Defence in the 1800 MHz ban.
     
    The Authority’s recommendation for the implementation of E-GSM band is one of the ways to enhance the supply of 900 MHz band spectrum which is considered by operators (the market) to be the most valuable spectrum. The option needs to be given serious consideration by the government.
     
    In the 2100 MHz band, an additional 3 blocks of 2×5 MHz of spectrum can be made available by swapping spectrum in this band with Defence which can be assigned spectrum in the 1900 MHz   band (1910-1920/1980-1990 MHz).
     
    The spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands should be auctioned together (simultaneously). Uncertainty would continue if auction of spectrum in the 2100 MHz is taken up later.
     
    The government should announce its decision on the adoption of APT700 band plan. It should also announce the roadmap for the auction of spectrum in 700 MHz band. This should be done before the conduct of the upcoming auctions in 900/1800 MHz band. These two decisions will help in the faster development of the device eco-system. It will also help TSPs to take an informed decision when bidding for the upcoming auction in 800/900/1800 MHz bands.
     
    The Authority had recommended that 1.2 MHz spectrum in 900 MHz band should be taken back from BSNL from all the LSAs where licences expire in 2015-16 except in Punjab. In lieu, BSNL should be assigned 1.2 MHz in the 1800 MHz band only in those LSAs where its spectrum holding in that band is less than 3.8 MHz in this band i.e. in Gujarat, Rajasthan and West Bengal. However, the DoT said it had no jurisdiction to take back spectrum from BSNL to which TRAI has said the PSUs (MTNL/BSNL) were awarded the spectrum in the 900 MHz band administratively and free of charge. Both the PSUs are government-owned companies and the government has every right to take the spectrum back from them if they are not using it optimally and efficiently. “It is inexplicable to take the stand that the government, being a sovereign and as owner of the PSU companies cannot resume spectrum given to the PSUs free of charge.” Besides, the DoT, being the licensor, has to ensure that spectrum is put to optimal use and an operator does not squat on invaluable spectrum.
     
    In this context, TRAI said it was worth recalling that being government companies, the government assigned 3G and BWA spectrum to them without their participation in the auctions. This spectrum was literally foisted on the PSUs. Later, when they just could not use the BWA spectrum, the government allowed them to surrender BWA spectrum and decided to refund the payment made by these PSUs.

     

  • TDSAT to hear petition challenging TRAI’s DAS tariff relating to commercial subscribers on 5 December

    TDSAT to hear petition challenging TRAI’s DAS tariff relating to commercial subscribers on 5 December

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) will hear on 5 December the petition by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) challenging the DAS tariff order issued in July by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) relating to commercial subscribers.

     
    When the issue came up in the Tribunal, counsel Abhishek Malhotra who represents the IBF said he needed time to file a rejoinder to the reply filed by TRAI following a notice in this regard in September.

     
    In the tariff order, TRAI had said commercial establishments who do not specifically charge its clients/guests on account of providing/showing television programmes and offer such services as part of amenities are to be treated like ordinary subscribers wherein the charges would be on per television basis.

     
    In cases where commercial subscribers specifically charge its clients/guests on account of providing/showing television programmes the tariff would be as mutually agreed between the broadcaster and the commercial subscriber.
     

    TRAI had also said that the commercial subscriber was to obtain television service only from a distribution platform operator (MSO/DTH Operator/IPTV operator/HITS operator).

     
    The tariff order amendment has been brought out as per the directions of the Supreme Court. It is expected that with the coming into force of these changes in the regulatory framework, the distribution of TV services to the commercial subscribers would be streamlined and the services would be available to them at competitive rates.

     

  • Smaller ISPs exempted from reporting requirement if subscribers number is less than 10,000

    Smaller ISPs exempted from reporting requirement if subscribers number is less than 10,000

     NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today decided to exempt internet service providers from the tariff reporting requirement during a financial year if the total number of its subscribers is less than ten thousand (<10,000) on the last day of the preceding financial year.

     
    It also said the existing exemption given to access service providers in respect of tariff schemes offered to bulk customer in response to a tender process or as a result of negotiations between the access provider and such bulk customer has been extended to the ISPs also.

     
    These directives came in the 59th Amendment to the Telecommunication Tariff Order (TTO) 1999.

     
    The amendment said exemption from tariff reporting requirement granted to the small ISPs did not mean that the regulatory principles, guidelines, etc. would not apply to them.

     
    However, keeping in view the small size of operations and resultant turnover of these small ISPs, the Authority feels that it is quite unlikely that these small-sized ISPs would violate the regulatory principles sought to be achieved by way of tariff reporting, especially in the competitive environment. Further, such exemption would help the small ISPs in reducing their compliance costs and once they achieve a subscriber base of 10,000 they will come under the ambit of tariff reporting requirement.

     
    In an explanatory memorandum to the Amendment, TRAI said clause 7 of the Telecommunication Tariff Order 1999 stipulated that all service providers shall comply with the reporting requirement in respect of tariffs specified for the first time and also all subsequent changes; provided that in respect of tariff plans offered by a telecom access provider to bulk customers, such as corporates, small and medium enterprises, institutions, etc. either in response to a tender process or as a result of negotiations between the access provider and such bulk customer, the reporting requirement shall not apply.

     
    The reporting requirement has been defined in clause 2 (l) of TTO 1999 as obligation of a service provider to report to the Authority, any new tariff for telecommunication  services    and/  or  any  changes  therein  within  seven working  days  from  the  date  of  implementation  of  the  said  tariff  for information and record of the Authority after conducting a self-check to ensure that the tariff plan(s) is/are consistent with the regulatory principles in all respects which inter-alia includes IUC compliance, non-discrimination and non-predation.

     
    The amendment followed comments received from ISPs to a draft amendment released by the Regulator in September.

     

    Click here to read the full amendment

    Click here to read the press release

     

  • Nodal monitoring units for DAS to be formed by mid-January, task force to meet every month

    Nodal monitoring units for DAS to be formed by mid-January, task force to meet every month

    NEW DELHI: A total of 11 crore set top boxes (STBs) will be needed for the third and final phase of digital addressable system of which only three crore will be for direct-to-home (DTH) platforms.

     
    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) says the requirements for phase III have been worked out on the basis of census 2011 data and the compiled data will be sent to state governments for vetting.
     

    The data for TV households is also being collected from the Registrar General and Census Commissioner for verification.

     
    The Ministry, which claims that manufacturers have assured it of adequate supplies of STBs, has constituted a publicity committee and begun issuing advertisements in newspapers and the electronic media in this regard to encourage multi-system operators to place orders.

     
    During the recent task force meeting for the next two phases of DAS, the Ministry said it will facilitate a meeting of manufacturers of indigenous STBs and MSOs in view of complaints by the manufacturers that no orders were being placed for the STBs.

     
    A multi-lingual call centre will be set up by the end of February, and 12 nodal regional monitoring units will begin working by 15 January. The task force will meet every on the second Wednesday of every month.

     
    The task force meeting under the chairmanship of Ministry additional secretary J S Mathur was also addressed by the advisor for DAS Yogendra Pal.

     
    A road map has been prepared by the government for the final two phases, and MSOs have been asked to apply by 21 December this year for licences.

     
    The Home Ministry will clear all security licences within 90 days, the meeting was informed.

     
    Publicity awareness campaigns have also commenced, for which a Publicity Committee has been formed.

     
    The Department of Information Technology is in the process of developing an Indian cable access system that will be ready in a year and will make interoperability of STBs possible. A participant pointed out that there was still the issue of certification involved in the embedment of CAS in set top box manufactured by the domestic STB manufacturers. The integration of CAS with the STB is a time consuming process and indigenous STB manufacturers must clear the apprehensions on this account.

     
    The long pending demand of “C” Form had been resolved to give fillip to domestic manufacturing of STBs.

     
    Interestingly, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has not attended any of the two task force meetings, a point noted by several participants. However, Mathur said TRAI was being apprised of the proceedings.

     
    The Ministry officials said that MSOs could simply download the forms for registration and did not have to come to the Ministry.

     
    A participant pointed out that the carriage fee which had fallen initially after announcement of DAS had again shot up. Others said issues relating to billing, packaging and reference interconnect order had still not been ironed out by TRAI.

     
    There was also a reference to entertainment tax, and it was stated by some participants that the Uttar Pradesh Government had sharply raised this tax.

     

  • “Indian cinema offers vision to young minds to learn and nurture talent”: Arun Jaitley

    “Indian cinema offers vision to young minds to learn and nurture talent”: Arun Jaitley

    MUMBAI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the Indian film industry has come of age in view of the diversity it offers with regards to the number of films produced in different languages and themes.

     

    “Cinema today acts as the alternate religion as it entertains, educates, gives a social perspective to issues, offers young growing minds the vision to learn and nurtures talent,” said Jaitley while delivering his address at the inaugural ceremony of the 45th edition of International Film Festival of India which began in Goa on 20 November.

     

    Elaborating further, Jaitley said cinema as a medium in the country has matured. “There is corporatisation of the industry, making it more professional and vibrant,” he said.

     

    The Minister reiterated the efforts being made by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to mainstream the National Film Heritage Mission as a policy initiative. “This will ensure the preservation of the record of Indian cinema digitally,” he added highlighting the importance of Goa being made the permanent venue of the International Film Festival of India in the context of its hospitality, growth, natural beauty and cultural diversity.

     

    Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was also present on the occasion, said that all efforts would be made to host the next edition of IFFI at the permanent venue.

     

    Also speaking on the occasion, I&B secretary Bimal Julka said that IFFI aims to nurture, encourage and inspire Indian cinema and introduce it to the world outside as well as many audiences within the country.

     

    Each edition of IFFI facilitates new strategies thereby ensuring enriched, enhanced and enlarged viewing experience. The vision of IFFI was to provide a common platform to project the excellence of the film art. With China being the focus country, Julka said that a special package on contemporary Chinese cinema had been created at the festival.

     

    In his address, the Chief Guest for the function,  Amitabh Bachchan traced the evolution of Indian cinema through its various facets touching upon the iconic films in different periods and the dominant themes. Bachchan also highlighted the role and relevance of Indian cinema in the context of India’s diversity and plurality.

     

    Jaitley along with Bachchan conferred the Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year on Rajnikanth for his outstanding contribution to Indian Cinema. The prestigious award consists of cash prize of Rs 10,00000, certificate and the Silver Peacock Medal. The award was instituted last year to commemorate 100 years of Indian Cinema.

     

    The International Jury for the Festival was also introduced at the inaugural ceremony. Jaitley felicitated the Jury Members including the chairman SlawomirIdziak, noted film maker from Poland, eminent Chinese film director, Zhang Jianya, renowned Swiss film maker and head of International Locarno Film Festival Nadia Dresti, noted American film critic, Marie Brenner, and renowned Indian actress Seema Biswas.

     

    The inaugural function also witnessed the screening of ‘Swacch Bharat’ promotion film and the signature film of the festival. The Signature Film was directed by Shaji N Karun, one of the renowned film makers of India. The President directed by eminent Iranian film maker, Mohsen  Makhmalbaf was the opening film of the festival.

     

    The 11 day festival would screen 178 films from 79 countries across different categories which includes world cinema (61 films), master-strokes (11 films), festival kaleidoscope (20 films), soul of Asia (7 films), documentaries (6 films) and animated films (6 films). Besides, Indian panorama section would include 26 feature and 15 non-feature films. North-east being the focus region of the festival, IFFI 2014 would be showcasing seven films from North eastern part of India. Regional cinema would also be an integral part of the festival. Retrospective sections on Gulzar and Jahnu Baruah, special homage films on Richard Attenborough, Robin Williams, Zohra Sehgal, Suchitra Sen and special tribute to Farooq Sheikh would be other attractions this year. A special section of films that focus on dance, personality based retrospectives and master classes/workshops would also form a part of IFFI 2014.

     

    The open air screening of Indian films for the general public free of cost on first come first basis would be a new attraction in IFFI 2014. Besides the world premieres, IFFI 2014 offered a repertoire of activities, such as the film bazar, 3D film shows, dinners, master classes, panel discussions, stalls and open-air screenings for the delegates.