ITV

Category: Regulators

  • TRAI asks MSOs and LMOs to mutually draft agreement to fast forward billing

    TRAI asks MSOs and LMOs to mutually draft agreement to fast forward billing

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will not see any further delay in implementation of billing. And it is with this aim that the regulator has decided to meet both the last mile owners (LMOs) and the multi system operators (MSOs) at regular intervals. The first of these meetings was held on 3 June in Mumbai, the focus of which remained billing, revenue share and instilling good practices.

     

    TRAI met some 300 cable operators, comprising members of Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) and a few independent MSOs from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune in the morning, while met the national MSOs including: Hathway Cable & Datacom, DEN Networks, Siticable, IMCL and MSOs from Nagpur, Pune among others in the afternoon.

     

    The message from the TRAI officials that comprised GS Kesarwani and SK Singhal was clear. “TRAI has asked the MSOs and LMOs to mutually come up with an agreement clearly defining the revenue share model, billing details etc which then needs to be signed by both the parties. In case the MSOs and LMOs cannot come up with this agreement mutually, TRAI will then draft an agreement, which will have to be followed by all,” informs a MSO who attended the meeting.

     

     No deadline has been set as yet for the two parties to draft the agreement. “TRAI officials also questioned MSOs on the reasons for not complying with the existing regulations,” adds the MSO.

     

    On the other hand, LMOs in their meeting with TRAI brought out issues relating to a few MSOs who indulged in taking the networks forcibly from LMOs, revenue share and billing. “We had a fruitful meeting with TRAI officials and now will wait for what they come up with next,” says MCOF president Arvind Prabhoo.

     

    He informs, “Well! We had reached some kind of agreement on the issue of billing with both Hathway and IMCL four months back, but nothing happened after that. We discussed those issues with TRAI officials as well.”

     

    In the meeting with LMOs, TRAI also discussed issues pertaining to DAS phase III and IV. “We had points about revenue share as well. TRAI has taken notes of the same,” he concludes.      

  • Applications invited for posts of member finance and personnel in Prasar Bharati

    Applications invited for posts of member finance and personnel in Prasar Bharati

    NEW DELHI: In keeping with the Ministry’s promise of the expediting pending matters, applications were invited for the posts of Member (Finance) and Member (Personnel) for Prasar Bharati several months after these posts became vacant.

     

    Both posts became vacant several months earlier.

     

    In advertisements placed on the Ministry’s website and in Employment News, the Ministry said if the applicants are from PSUs, autonomous bodies, statutory corporations and Government servants, the application should be forwarded through proper channel and should be accompanied by Vigilance clearance, Cadre clearance, Integrity Certificate and ACRs for last five years.

     

    The post carries scale of pay equivalent to the Additional Secretary to the Govt. of India.

     

    The separate notices said the Member (Finance) should have special knowledge or practical experience in respect of financial matters while the Member (Personnel) should have special knowledge or practical experience in respect of personnel management and administration.

     

    The members will be appointed on recommendation of a committee headed by the Vice President of India.

     

    “The person so appointed being the whole time member of the Prasar Bharati Board shall be an employee of the Prasar Bharati and shall hold office for a term of six years from the date on which he/she enters upon his/her office, or until he/she attains the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier,” the notice said.

     

    The Members will be whole time Members of the Prasar Bharati Board and in pursuance of the Prasar Bharati Act 1990 will be responsible for all the financial matters, and personnel and administrative matters, respectively concerning Prasar Bharati.

     

    The Prasar Bharati Board is vested with powers for overall superintendence, direction and control of the affairs of the Corporation.

     

    The service conditions of the Members will be governed by the provisions of the Act and the rules notified by the Central Government in 2000 and the amendments issued therein from time to time.

     

    For applicants from private sector/autonomous bodies/statutory corporations, the applicants should be graduates from recognised university/institutions with good academic record. Persons possessing MBA qualification in Finance Management and Personnel Management respectively would be preferable. They should possess adequate post-qualification experience at a senior level of management in a large organisation of repute.

     

    For applicants from public sector enterprises, they should be senior executive /Board level executive working in reputed public sector enterprises, willing to get absorbed in the Prasar Bharati.

     

    For applicants from the Government, additional secretary/senior joint secretary level officers who are willing to get absorbed in Prasar Bharati on selection.

  • No government interference in acquisition of Network 18 by RIL: Prakash Javadekar

    No government interference in acquisition of Network 18 by RIL: Prakash Javadekar

    GOA: “There is no government interference in the acquisition of Network 18 by Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Industries Limited,” announced I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar, brushing aside any rumour about BJP led government having a role to play in the recent acquisition of Network 18 by RIL. The newly appointed I&B Minister was addressing the gathering on the final day of GoaFest. Javadekar also accepted that cross media ownership was debatable and will be addressed soon.

     

    “The I&B Ministry will always protect and respect the freedom of press,” emphasised Javadaker. The Minister further went on to say that I&B Ministry is looking at making both Doordarshan and All India Radio competitive. “It is my dream to make Doordarshan a success story,” he said.

     

    “I would address the grievances of all cable operators if they take DD in the prime brand,” added the Minister on a lighter note. “The Ministry will take into consideration all the viewpoints of various stakeholders of the media and then take necessary actions in the near future,” he announced.  

     

    The biggest challenge for the Minister will be the smooth rollout of the remaining two phases of digitisation. While in phase III of digitisation 11 crore set top boxes are expected to be installed, Javadekar is of the view that the set top boxes manufactured in China do not guarantee good value for money. “The Ministry is looking at creating opportunities to manufacture set top boxes locally. We will soon meet with both the Finance and Commerce Ministries to take this forward,” he said.  

     

    Javadekar also touched upon the issue of FM radio in India. “I have already met all the FM radio heads and the way forward will be declared shortly.  The age old batteries of transmitters of AIR stations will soon get some ‘air’ as the Ministry is looking at replacing them with new ones,” he announced.  

     

    The Minister, who believes in the age old thought that good advertising cannot make a bad product good and strongly feels that it holds true in today’s world too, also used the platform to address the advertising fraternity. “The difference that the nation will see now is not only difference in leadership but in its vision too,” he said.

     

    Javadekar too has the experience of creating campaigns. The Minister who had crafted campaigns for his party away back in 1989 in Maharashtra said, “I truly understand the system that goes behind each campaign.”

     

    Javadekar is impressed with what ASCI has been initiating and said the Ministry will give its complete support to the association. He also mentioned that issues related to ratings, if any, should be treated privately by advertisers and broadcasters unless there is conflict and they seek government intervention.

     

    The Modi government has truly used the power of social media to scale up its communications. Javadekar said that under his leadership he will review the party’s social media activities very keenly. 

     

    It will be interesting to see what Javadekar brings on table in the coming days for the media fraternity as a whole! 

  • Fresh look for DAS phase III and IV needed: Prakash Javadekar

    Fresh look for DAS phase III and IV needed: Prakash Javadekar

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister (I&B) Prakash Javadekar has indicated that he will ensure that the last two phases of digitisation are not implemented until indigenous set top boxes are available in adequate numbers.

     

    At present, the implementation of these two phases is slated for December this year.

     

    The Minister has also agreed that encrypted – pay television channels should not be permitted to carry advertisements.  

     

    The assurances were given to a delegation comprising members of National Cable and Telecommunications Association and Cable Operators Federation of India who met the newly appointed I&B Minister.

     

    During the meeting, the Minister was informed about the overflow of the Chinese and other set top boxes. There was also a stress on production of Digital Radio Mondiale sets in the country.  

  • Ministries urged to come on social media through I&B Ministry’s Communication Hub

    Ministries urged to come on social media through I&B Ministry’s Communication Hub

    NEW DELHI: All Central Ministries have been requested by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to disseminate their policy initiatives through the Communication Hub under the existing New Media Wing of his Ministry.

     

    Firmly believing in prolific use of social media, the Minister wrote to his Cabinet colleagues for utilising this Communication Hub as a one-stop place for social media outreach based on Hub and Spoke model. 
     

    In his letter, he said each Ministry or/Department may liaise with the New Media Wing which will cater to all its needs such as disseminating information through packaging and placing of content, wider reach through variety of tools and response management.

     

    He said the two-way interaction envisaged in this endeavour would provide a 360 degree communication approach to the government and hence help in last man connectivity. 

    He informed that the directive was in adherence to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wanted to use the social media platforms extensively for transparency and better governance. 

  • Appeals against tariff increases of 27.5 per cent in DAS to be heard in August

    Appeals against tariff increases of 27.5 per cent in DAS to be heard in August

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom and Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) today directed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to respond by 4 July to a petition challenging the legality of tariff orders allowing the increase of 27.5 per cent inflationary rise in the wholesale prices prevailing as on 31 March 2004.

     

    TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh said any other stakeholders including broadcasters could intervene by 16 July and the appeal would be heard on 4 August.

     

    Meanwhile, the broadcasters will retain in a separate account, any payments received as tariff, as this would be subject to the final order of the Tribunal.

     

    The appeals wanted TRAI to be directed to carry de-novo exercise in accordance with the statutory provision for price fixation for addressable system de-linking the same from the wholesale price of channels for non addressable system.

     

    In the appeals filed by Home Cable Network and the consumer organisation Centre for Transforming India, the legality of Tariff Order (Telecommunications (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Second) Tariff (Eleventh Amendment) Order 2014 dated 31 March this year allowing the increase of 27.5 per cent inflationary rise in the wholesale prices prevailing as on 31 March 2004 has been challenged.

     

    The appellants have also challenged the impugned tariff order dated 31 March 2014 on the ground that the same has been passed in violation of Section 11(4) without affording any hearing opportunity to the stakeholders and without considering the relevant material and reports.

     

    Furthermore, the impugned tariff order is without jurisdiction because it still provides for adhoc measure of price freeze as on 31 March 2014 even after 10 years of second tariff order dated 1 October 2004 while abdicating it regulatory duty to fix the tariff.

     

    The impugned tariff order has adversely impacted the interest of the addressable platform because the wholesale pricing of the addressable system is based on the wholesale pricing of the non addressable platform; Fourthly that the impugned tariff is heavily tilted towards broadcasters and seriously prejudices the interest of the consumers, MSO’s and stifles orderly growth of the cable and broadcasting sector.

     

    Counsel Vivek Sareen argued that TRAI ignored the fact that the wholesale pricing of non addressable system and addressable system are inter related. The wholesale price for addressable platform is derived from the wholesale price of non addressable system. By its order, TRAI indirectly and in substance increased the wholesale price for addressable platform / DAS notified area. The said increase in the wholesale price for addressable platform is affected in violation of section 11(4) of the Act.    

     

    TRAI completely disregarded the fact that by changing the content pricing and increasing the same by 27.5 per cent with reference to the price existed immediately prior to 31 March 2014, this will immediately increase the price of content for addressable platform. The authority did not provide any hearing opportunity to the stakeholders including the appellants to represent their view as a stakeholder in the consultation process.

     

    It was stated that TRAI had rushed to issue the impugned order thereby increasing the wholesale price for addressable platform by 15 per cent with effect from 1 April 2014. Thus the impugned order failed to take into account the inputs from such stakeholders.

  • TRAI issues directions to MSOs to comply with rules relating to billing for each customer

    TRAI issues directions to MSOs to comply with rules relating to billing for each customer

    NEW DELHI: Directions have been issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to multi-system operators (MSOs) covered under the first phase of digital addressable system (DAS) to ensure delivery of bill to each subscriber by hand or post or email, as may be opted by the subscriber and provide within 45 days, online payment option in its subscriber management system (SMS) for payment of bill by the subscriber.

     

    In a direction issued under section 13, read with sub-clauses (i) and (v) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 11, of the TRAI Act 1997 and regulation 24 of the Standards of Quality of Service (DAS Cable TV Systems) Regulations, 2012, the regulator has also said that the MSOs must ensure within 30 days that an electronic acknowledgement is sent to the subscriber, on his registered mobile number or the e-mail address, immediately on his making any payment to the service provider.

     

    The action comes after a study by a joint team consisting of the representatives of the Authority and Broadcast Engineers Consultants, a public sector unit of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, to inspect and audit the head- end and the subscriber management system of the MSO providing cable TV services in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

     

    The Authority also held meetings with the representatives of the local linked cable operators and the MSOs on 16 April and 17 April.

     

    During the inspection, the Authority noted non-compliance of the provisions of the regulations by the service providers.

     

    The direction said the representative of MSO or its linked LCO who collects the payment from the subscriber shall forward the details of the subscriber and the payment made in front of subscriber through his mobile phone to the subscriber management system. The SMS on receipt of this information, shall send an automatic acknowledgement of the payment received to the subscriber either on his registered mobile number or his email address.

     

    TRAI said regulation 24 of the Standards of Quality of Service (Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems) Regulations 2012 provides that the Authority may, by order or direction, from time to time, intervene, for the purpose of protecting the interest of the subscribers or monitoring or performance of Quality of service standards of the MSO or its linked local cable operator   or for ensuring compliance of the provisions of these regulations and reads as under:-

     

    TRAI had on 2 December 2013 directed the MSOs to offer cable TV services to its subscribers on both pre-paid and post-paid payment options and generate bills for subscriber; give to every subscriber the bill, on regular basis, for charges due and payable for each month or for any other agreed period and the bill for the period ending the 30 November 2013 latest by 15 December 2013, according to the billing cycle agreed between the parties.

     

    The MSOs were also to give itemised bill to the subscriber clearly indicating the price of channels or bouquet of channels along with the name of channels in the bouquet, charges for basic tier and channels comprised therein, charges for set-top-box, charges for value added service, the details of taxes along with the rate of taxes and Service Tax registration number and Entertainment Tax registration number; ensure that a proper receipt is given to the subscriber by it or its linked local cable operator for every payment made by the subscriber; and provide to the pre-paid subscriber, at a reasonable cost, the information relating to the itemised usage charge showing actual usage of service. A compliance report had to be submitted by 31 December 2013 for the areas of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Municipal Council of Greater Mumbai and Kolkata Metropolitan area.

  • Government has no intentions to impose any regulations on the media: Javadekar

    Government has no intentions to impose any regulations on the media: Javadekar

    NEW DELHI: Newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said today that freedom of the press is the cornerstone of a democracy and his first aim in his new portfolio will be to find ways to strengthen this freedom.

     

    Speaking soon after taking charge of his portfolio, the Minister said that the media and politicians must work together to highlight the problems of the people and bring them before the government.

     

    Describing himself as ‘just a soldier’, he said he had always stood for freedom of the press and had suffered a 16-month imprisonment during the national emergency in 1975 in this fight as he belongs to a family of journalists.

     

    Noting that the press has conducted itself in a responsible manner and set up self-regulatory bodies, he said the government would not impose any regulations on the fourth estate.

     

    The media in its present form gives a ‘rainbow of choices’ and even dissent has its own place in a democratic system of functioning. Constructive criticism is therefore welcome.

     

    Asked about the frictions with Prasar Bharati, Javadekar said he had not had time to study the issues yet but would like to work in partnership with all the autonomous media units including Prasar Bharati.

     

    He said in reply to a question that he did not agree with his immediate predecessor that there was no need for an Information and Broadcasting Ministry in the present context.

     

    Referring to social media, he said that while it presently came under the Information Technology Act, but he would study it and see how it can be helped. He said he would meet all the officials of the Ministry, understand the issues involved and then make some suggestions to the Prime Minister.

     

    Soon after meeting the media, he met senior officials of the Ministry and also media units, apart from Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar and Director of Film Festivals Shankar Mohan.

     

    Contrary to expectations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not upgraded the post of Information and Broadcasting to cabinet rank.

     

    Like his immediate predecessor Manish Tewari, Javadekar will be a Minister of State with independent charge of Information and Broadcasting Ministry. (He has also been given charge of Environment and Parliamentary Affairs). However, he has ample experience as far as dealing with the media and its problems are concerned, since he like Tewari has served as party spokesperson for the past few years.

     

    Javedekar has also been one of the nominated members from Parliament to the Press Council of India and hence has dealt with media issues such as paid news. A member of the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra, Javadekar was born in Pune on 30 January 1951 and became associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in his young days.

     

    He commenced his professional life as an employee in the Bank of Maharashtra for 10 years from 1971 to 1981 and also worked in the Rural Development Department.

     

    His father Keshav Krishna Javadekar was a senior leader of Hindu Maha Sabha who worked as joint editor of Marathi Daily started by Lokmanya Tilak – Kesari before having stints with some other newspapers like Tarun Bharat and Kaal as journalist. He still occasionally writes his thoughts in some newspapers.

     

    Javadekar has been president of GLOBE India (Global Legislators Organisation for Balanced Environment); In-charge BJP Economic Forum and Cells related to Economy; President, NOINO (National Organisation of Insurance Officers) and president, KCKU (Khadi Commission Karmachari Union).

     

    As a member of Parliament, he has served as member of the Press Council of India; the Public Accounts Committee; Standing Committee on Human Resources and Development; Consultative Committee for Ministry of Power; Committee on Subordinate Legislation and Committee on Wakf.

     

    He has earlier served as executive president of the State Planning Board in Maharashtra (1995–1999); been a  member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from Pune Division Graduate Constituency for 12 years from 1990; chairman of the Task Force on IT in Maharashtra (1977–1999) and chairman of the Working Group on ‘IT for Masses’ of the central government.

     

    He has also led a delegation to Boston to negotiate Media Lab Asia Project in 2000.

  • Prakash Javadekar takes over as I&B Minister

    Prakash Javadekar takes over as I&B Minister

    NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar has been sworn in as the new Information and Broadcasting Minister. Javadekar, in an interview to a News channel has said that his first priority as the Minister of State Information & Broadcasting would be to ensure the freedom of media.

     

    Javadekar, who will take charge of the ministry later today, also said he would like to study three portfolios given to him for three to four days before taking any action.

     

    Javadekar has also been given (Independent charge) of Environment and Parliamentary Affairs.

     

    Ravi Shankar Prasad is to be the new communication and information technology minister with cabinet rank. He will also hold charge of the law and justice ministry. 

  • TDSAT again adjourns DTH licence fee case to 8 July on plea by operators

    TDSAT again adjourns DTH licence fee case to 8 July on plea by operators

    NEW DELHI: The petition by private direct-to-home (DTH) operators challenging the notice of the government for clearing arrears of licence fees has once again been adjourned – this time to 8 July – as the operators have still not filed their rejoinders to the reply by the government.

     

    The adjournment was allowed by Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) chairman Aftab Alam and Kuldeep Singh on a mention by counsel for the various DTH operators.

     
    TDSAT also noted that the earlier assurance by the government that it will not pressurise the operators in this regard till the case is taken up for hearing will continue.

     

    The petitioners have alleged that the demand by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is contempt of court as the matter in this regard is pending in the Supreme Court.

     

    However, Information and Broadcasting Ministry secretary Bimal Julka had earlier told indiantelevision.com that the apex court had not issued any stay order. However, the government had filed a caveat in this regard, conscious that the TDSAT or the Supreme Court may be moved in the matter.

     
    The Ministry had recently sent a notice to the six private DTH operators with regard to licence fee dues amounting to Rs 2,066 crore. The private operators are Tata Sky, Dish TV, Airtel Digital TV, Reliance Big TV, Sun Direct and Videocon d2h.

     

    According to the notice, the six private operators had been asked to pay the amount within 15 days.

     
    However, most of the operators contacted said they had cleared the dues of licence fee.

     
    The operators say the licence fee as demanded under the rules is on gross revenue (GR) whereas they have been asked to pay the fee on the basis of Actual Gross Revenue (AGR). The operators have said the fee should be only on subscription revenue and not on allied earnings such as dividend and interest income. 
     

    Even as the matter was pending, Tata Sky had late last month made a payment of Rs 383 crore to the Ministry to cover its license fee and other dues. A demand draft of the amount was submitted to the Ministry. Even as other operators had said that they would prefer to wait till the next hearing.
     

    Tata Sky had then said that the amount covered license fee for the year 2013-14 according to the rate specified for license as well as past dues.