ITV

Category: TRAI

  • TRAI urged to ensure signals to LCOs not disrupted following withdraw its hike-linked tariffs

    TRAI urged to ensure signals to LCOs not disrupted following withdraw its hike-linked tariffs

    NEW DELHI: Following the decision of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to withdraw its hike-based tariff orders of 27.5 per cent, the reguator has been urged to issue orders asking multisystem operators not to disconnect the signals received by last mile networks (LCO) during this crucial period of observing the tariff and arrears adjustment period (TAAP).

    The regulator has also been urged to ask MSOs to to make any package alterations, activations or deactivations in set top boxes for the smooth adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by LCOs from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

    In a detailed letter to TAI Chairman R S Sharma, both National Cable and Telecommunication Association and Cable Operators Federation of India has said that a similar direction may be given to the Pay TV Broadcasters and they be directed to bring back the tariff as existing on 31 March 2014.

    In the pre-paid MSO business model, adequate credit should be maintained by the MSO in the system during this period of our observing TAAP, for the adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by us from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

    The two organizations have also said that in case of any discrepancy or for reconciliation of accounts by the MSO, if needed, Rendition of the “Separate Accounts “kept be made in order to ascertain the discrepancy and reconciliation of the accounts.
    The letter by NCTA President Vikki Choudhry and COFI President Roop Sharma have pointed out that the regulator had itself withdrawn its tariff-linked tariff orders in the light of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal setting aside the two orders which had allowed for one installment of 15% from 1 April 2014 and the second hike of 12.5% allowed both at the retail and wholesale levels from 1 January 2015.

    In view of the TDSAT order and subsequent withdrawal of the orders, there is an immediate need to adjust the increased payments if made by the subscribers to the LCOs, LCOs to the MSOs and MSOs to the broadcasters.

    “This TAAP observed to adjust our rightful and legitimate arrears due, upon the MSO, should not be construed as a default in payment or non-payment of agreed / negotiated / invoiced payments due, under an interconnection agreement entered with the MSO in any manner whatsoever or otherwise. Statutory payment obligations towards applicable Entertainment Tax and Service Tax will continue to be fulfilled as is, during this period of observing TAAP by the stakeholders”, the letter said.

    The last mile LCOs will also enclose a copy of the last paid invoice / bank statement of the payments made / released to the respective MSO in order to also certify that there are no outstanding dues payable on them as on date.

  • TRAI urged to ensure signals to LCOs not disrupted following withdraw its hike-linked tariffs

    TRAI urged to ensure signals to LCOs not disrupted following withdraw its hike-linked tariffs

    NEW DELHI: Following the decision of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to withdraw its hike-based tariff orders of 27.5 per cent, the reguator has been urged to issue orders asking multisystem operators not to disconnect the signals received by last mile networks (LCO) during this crucial period of observing the tariff and arrears adjustment period (TAAP).

    The regulator has also been urged to ask MSOs to to make any package alterations, activations or deactivations in set top boxes for the smooth adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by LCOs from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

    In a detailed letter to TAI Chairman R S Sharma, both National Cable and Telecommunication Association and Cable Operators Federation of India has said that a similar direction may be given to the Pay TV Broadcasters and they be directed to bring back the tariff as existing on 31 March 2014.

    In the pre-paid MSO business model, adequate credit should be maintained by the MSO in the system during this period of our observing TAAP, for the adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by us from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

    The two organizations have also said that in case of any discrepancy or for reconciliation of accounts by the MSO, if needed, Rendition of the “Separate Accounts “kept be made in order to ascertain the discrepancy and reconciliation of the accounts.
    The letter by NCTA President Vikki Choudhry and COFI President Roop Sharma have pointed out that the regulator had itself withdrawn its tariff-linked tariff orders in the light of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal setting aside the two orders which had allowed for one installment of 15% from 1 April 2014 and the second hike of 12.5% allowed both at the retail and wholesale levels from 1 January 2015.

    In view of the TDSAT order and subsequent withdrawal of the orders, there is an immediate need to adjust the increased payments if made by the subscribers to the LCOs, LCOs to the MSOs and MSOs to the broadcasters.

    “This TAAP observed to adjust our rightful and legitimate arrears due, upon the MSO, should not be construed as a default in payment or non-payment of agreed / negotiated / invoiced payments due, under an interconnection agreement entered with the MSO in any manner whatsoever or otherwise. Statutory payment obligations towards applicable Entertainment Tax and Service Tax will continue to be fulfilled as is, during this period of observing TAAP by the stakeholders”, the letter said.

    The last mile LCOs will also enclose a copy of the last paid invoice / bank statement of the payments made / released to the respective MSO in order to also certify that there are no outstanding dues payable on them as on date.

  • TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    NEW DELHI: With consumers still to get a full experience of digital addressable systems and the various rules relating to it, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has agreed to extend the last date for receipt on comments on its consultation paper on ‘Issues related to Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection’.

    Stakeolders can now send in their comments by 1 July and any counter-comments by 8 July 2016 to the paper issued on 18 May 2016. The earlier date was 17 June for receipt of comments and 1 July 2016 for counter comments.

    As the country moves towards the final phase of digital addressable systems, TRAI wants to know if there should be a uniform regulatory framework for quality of service and consumer protection across all digital addressable platforms.

    TRAI has also sought opinion of stakeholders on the standards and essential technical parameters for ensuring good quality of service for Digital Cable TV, Direct-to-home (DTH), head-end in the sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

    In over fifty questions posed to stakeholders, it wants to know the broad contours for Quality of Service Regulatory Framework for digital addressable systems.

    The regulator has asked if timelines relating to various activities to get new connection should be left to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to be transparently declared to the subscribers. What should be the time limits for various activities including consumer application form and installation and activation of service for new connections, it wants to know.

    Referring to a query often asked by stakeholders, the regulator wants to know if the minimum essential information to be included in the CAF should be mandated through regulations to maintain basic uniformity. Should the use of e-CAF be facilitated, encouraged or mandated, it has asked.

    TRAI wants to know if an initial subscription period can be charged while providing a new connection to protect the interest of subscribers as well as DPOs, and the protections for subscribers and DPOs during initial subscription period.

  • TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    NEW DELHI: With consumers still to get a full experience of digital addressable systems and the various rules relating to it, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has agreed to extend the last date for receipt on comments on its consultation paper on ‘Issues related to Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection’.

    Stakeolders can now send in their comments by 1 July and any counter-comments by 8 July 2016 to the paper issued on 18 May 2016. The earlier date was 17 June for receipt of comments and 1 July 2016 for counter comments.

    As the country moves towards the final phase of digital addressable systems, TRAI wants to know if there should be a uniform regulatory framework for quality of service and consumer protection across all digital addressable platforms.

    TRAI has also sought opinion of stakeholders on the standards and essential technical parameters for ensuring good quality of service for Digital Cable TV, Direct-to-home (DTH), head-end in the sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

    In over fifty questions posed to stakeholders, it wants to know the broad contours for Quality of Service Regulatory Framework for digital addressable systems.

    The regulator has asked if timelines relating to various activities to get new connection should be left to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to be transparently declared to the subscribers. What should be the time limits for various activities including consumer application form and installation and activation of service for new connections, it wants to know.

    Referring to a query often asked by stakeholders, the regulator wants to know if the minimum essential information to be included in the CAF should be mandated through regulations to maintain basic uniformity. Should the use of e-CAF be facilitated, encouraged or mandated, it has asked.

    TRAI wants to know if an initial subscription period can be charged while providing a new connection to protect the interest of subscribers as well as DPOs, and the protections for subscribers and DPOs during initial subscription period.

  • TRAI extends time for responses to issues on availability of free data

    TRAI extends time for responses to issues on availability of free data

    NEW DELHI: Given the complicated issues around net neutrality, stakeholders have now been given more time to reply to a consultation paper on Free Data which also touched on this subject.

    Comments on the paper, issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on 19 May 2016, will have to be sent by 30 June 2016 with counter-comments on 14 July 2016. The earlier dates were 16 June and 30 June respectively.

    Stretching the discussion on net neutrality, TRAI had wants to know whether there is a need to have TSP agnostic platform to provide free data or suitable reimbursement to users without violating the principles of Differential Pricing for Data laid down in TRAI Regulation.

    It also wants to know if free data or suitable reimbursement to users should be limited to mobile data users only or could it be extended through technical means to subscribers of fixed line broadband or leased line.

    The paper says that in the recent past, some data services plans of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) came to the notice of TRAI which amounted to discriminatory tariff through offering zero or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms. The objective of offering such plans was claimed to be the desire of various service providers/content providers or platform providers to enable people of this country, especially the poor, to access certain content on the internet free of charge.

  • TRAI extends time for responses to issues on availability of free data

    TRAI extends time for responses to issues on availability of free data

    NEW DELHI: Given the complicated issues around net neutrality, stakeholders have now been given more time to reply to a consultation paper on Free Data which also touched on this subject.

    Comments on the paper, issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on 19 May 2016, will have to be sent by 30 June 2016 with counter-comments on 14 July 2016. The earlier dates were 16 June and 30 June respectively.

    Stretching the discussion on net neutrality, TRAI had wants to know whether there is a need to have TSP agnostic platform to provide free data or suitable reimbursement to users without violating the principles of Differential Pricing for Data laid down in TRAI Regulation.

    It also wants to know if free data or suitable reimbursement to users should be limited to mobile data users only or could it be extended through technical means to subscribers of fixed line broadband or leased line.

    The paper says that in the recent past, some data services plans of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) came to the notice of TRAI which amounted to discriminatory tariff through offering zero or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms. The objective of offering such plans was claimed to be the desire of various service providers/content providers or platform providers to enable people of this country, especially the poor, to access certain content on the internet free of charge.

  • TRAI extends time for interconnect agreement reactions

    TRAI extends time for interconnect agreement reactions

    NEW DELHI: Several stakeholders have complained to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that most consumers are not even aware of the rates of various television channels and so the local cable operators were at the receiving end as they had to deal with the viewers.

    At an Open House discussion on the interconnection network for broadcasting TV Services distributed through addressable systems most stakeholders comprosing local cable operators and multi system operators raised issues that they said needed greater introspection. Cable Operators President of India President Roop Sharma said there was shortage of set top boxes and the consumer was not aware of what STB he should acquire.

    K K Sharma who edits Cable Quest said that no attention had been paid to the entry of OTT and the cross ownership that has come with this new phenomenon. The agreement has to be clear on this issue.

    Later, TRAI extended the date by one week to 10 June for comments on its consultation paper on
    Interconnect agreements for DAS areas. The date for counter-comments will remain the same – 17 June.

    TRAI had asked stakeholders to give suggestions on how a level playing can be created among different service providers using different addressable systems.

    It wanted to know whether there should be a common interconnection regulatory framework be mandated for all types of addressable systems.

    In the Consultation Paper issued on 4 May, it asked if there is any need to allow agreements based on mutually agreed terms, which donot form part of RIO, in digital addressable systems where calculation of fee can be based on subscription numbers. .

    The Paper has been issued not merely because the country is marching towards the last phase of DAS, but also in view of several judgments of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal where it has disallowed payments in the absence of agreements despite mutual oral agreements.

    TRAI wants to know how the interconnection agreements entered on mutually agreed terms meet the requirement of providing a levelplaying field amongst service providers can be ensured, and the ways for effectively implementing non-discrimination on ground.

  • TRAI extends time for interconnect agreement reactions

    TRAI extends time for interconnect agreement reactions

    NEW DELHI: Several stakeholders have complained to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that most consumers are not even aware of the rates of various television channels and so the local cable operators were at the receiving end as they had to deal with the viewers.

    At an Open House discussion on the interconnection network for broadcasting TV Services distributed through addressable systems most stakeholders comprosing local cable operators and multi system operators raised issues that they said needed greater introspection. Cable Operators President of India President Roop Sharma said there was shortage of set top boxes and the consumer was not aware of what STB he should acquire.

    K K Sharma who edits Cable Quest said that no attention had been paid to the entry of OTT and the cross ownership that has come with this new phenomenon. The agreement has to be clear on this issue.

    Later, TRAI extended the date by one week to 10 June for comments on its consultation paper on
    Interconnect agreements for DAS areas. The date for counter-comments will remain the same – 17 June.

    TRAI had asked stakeholders to give suggestions on how a level playing can be created among different service providers using different addressable systems.

    It wanted to know whether there should be a common interconnection regulatory framework be mandated for all types of addressable systems.

    In the Consultation Paper issued on 4 May, it asked if there is any need to allow agreements based on mutually agreed terms, which donot form part of RIO, in digital addressable systems where calculation of fee can be based on subscription numbers. .

    The Paper has been issued not merely because the country is marching towards the last phase of DAS, but also in view of several judgments of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal where it has disallowed payments in the absence of agreements despite mutual oral agreements.

    TRAI wants to know how the interconnection agreements entered on mutually agreed terms meet the requirement of providing a levelplaying field amongst service providers can be ensured, and the ways for effectively implementing non-discrimination on ground.

  • MIB’s clearance of 21 more TV channels takes tally to 890

    MIB’s clearance of 21 more TV channels takes tally to 890

    New Delhi: With clearance to twenty-one more private satellite television channels in the past two months, the total number has risen to 890 of which news and current affairs channels number 401.

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has said it had given permission to 1028 channels but later cancelled permission to 138.

    With five more channels getting permission in May, the number of general entertainment channels is 489 as on 31 May.

    Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country and there has been no change in this category.

    A total of 774 channels including 395 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 96 including 81 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.

    After 31 March, the news channels cleared are: News18 Goa, News18 Tamil Nadu, News18 Kerala, News18 Punjab, News18 J&K and News18 Assam/North East of the TV18 Broadcast Ltd; and ETV HD of Eenadu TV Pvt Ltd.

    The Non-News channels cleared are & Youth HD and & Music from the Zee Group; Nationcast, NXT, ZAP, Powerplay and UPLEX from Viacom 18; DHAMMAL GUJJUU of Sab Global Entertainment Pvt Ltd; SIX 2 of Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd,; Goodness TV of Goodnews Channel Pvt. Ltd; MK Tunes and MK Six of Madurai Krishan Network Pvt. Ltd; Sai Sabha of Sai Babha Network Pvt. Ltd; and Shubh Cinema of Shubh Media Pvt. Ltd

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry site (mib.nic.in) also contains the full details of the owners of these channels, the languages in which they will beam, and the date on which the clearance came. However, there are no details of channels denied permission.

  • MIB’s clearance of 21 more TV channels takes tally to 890

    MIB’s clearance of 21 more TV channels takes tally to 890

    New Delhi: With clearance to twenty-one more private satellite television channels in the past two months, the total number has risen to 890 of which news and current affairs channels number 401.

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has said it had given permission to 1028 channels but later cancelled permission to 138.

    With five more channels getting permission in May, the number of general entertainment channels is 489 as on 31 May.

    Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country and there has been no change in this category.

    A total of 774 channels including 395 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 96 including 81 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.

    After 31 March, the news channels cleared are: News18 Goa, News18 Tamil Nadu, News18 Kerala, News18 Punjab, News18 J&K and News18 Assam/North East of the TV18 Broadcast Ltd; and ETV HD of Eenadu TV Pvt Ltd.

    The Non-News channels cleared are & Youth HD and & Music from the Zee Group; Nationcast, NXT, ZAP, Powerplay and UPLEX from Viacom 18; DHAMMAL GUJJUU of Sab Global Entertainment Pvt Ltd; SIX 2 of Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd,; Goodness TV of Goodnews Channel Pvt. Ltd; MK Tunes and MK Six of Madurai Krishan Network Pvt. Ltd; Sai Sabha of Sai Babha Network Pvt. Ltd; and Shubh Cinema of Shubh Media Pvt. Ltd

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry site (mib.nic.in) also contains the full details of the owners of these channels, the languages in which they will beam, and the date on which the clearance came. However, there are no details of channels denied permission.