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Tag: CAS bill

  • CAS Bill first item on RS agenda today; discussion post-lunch

    CAS Bill first item on RS agenda today; discussion post-lunch

    NEW DELHI: The Cable TV (Networks) Regulation Amendment Bill 2002, the passage of which will bring in conditional access system (CAS) in the country, has been listed as the first item on the agenda of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) of the Indian Parliament today.

    The discussion on the CAS Bill is scheduled to take place after the luncheon session.

    Information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj had expressed confidence in a conversation with indiantelevision.com last Friday that the process of implementation of the CAS should get the nod of the Rajya Sabha this week.

    Sounding absolutely confident of the passage of the Bill, Swaraj had stated she did not foresee any opposition to the Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

    Swaraj’s assertive stance on CAS followed soon after the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), after initial reservations on CAS, made it public that it supports the government initiatives on CAS.

    The Bill, which seeks to facilitate implementation of CAS and bring about addressability in Indian cable homes, has already been okayed by the Lok Sabha (Lower House) during the Monsoon Session itself. The Bill is now awaiting the Rajya Sabha’s nod before it is enacted into law.

    The Rajya Sabha, where the government does not have a majority, has been a problem area for the government as far as CAS is concerned. The Opposition Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha — mainly the Communist party of India (Marxist) and the Congress Party — had been demanding that the issue of CAS be discussed thoroughly and, preferably, be referred to a parliamentary committee for more deliberations on the issue.

    A senior RS partyman of the CPM, Nilotpaul Basu, had told indiantelevision.com recently that his party is for CAS to be referred to a parliamentary panel for more discussion on the issue. However, Basu could not be contacted for comments on Swaraj’s latest assertion on CAS.

    Finally, after a whole host of twists and turns, CAS looks on its way to becoming reality, though its actual implementation will take some more time.

  • CAS Bill clears last hurdle; passed unanimously in Rajya Sabha

    CAS Bill clears last hurdle; passed unanimously in Rajya Sabha

    NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj today pulled out another ace from her sleeve, getting one of her favourite subjects – the introduction of the conditional access system regime – okayed by one of the Houses of Indian parliament with minimum of fuss and, surprisingly, overwhelming support.

    Now, consumers will have to pay for only those channels which he wishes to see and the maximum price for the basic tier of service comprising free to air channels would be determined by the government.

    Sony Entertainment Television India CEO Kunal Dasgupta had this to say about the passage of the Cable TV (Networks) Regulation Amendment Bill 2002, which will bring in CAS in the country: “We welcome the passage of the Bill and we hope to work closely with the government in the implementation process.”

    Talking on behalf of the cable industry, HTMT’s executive V-P corporate, Ashok Mansukhani, said, “We are very happy that the Bill has been passed. We’ll work very hard in conjunction with broadcasters to bring even more channels at an affordable cost within the next six months.”

    A Star TV spokesperson also welcomed CAS. “We are pleased with this announcement and look forward to being a part of the implementation process. We believe that the proper implementation of CAS will result in complete transparency in the declaration of subscriber numbers. It will also offer consumers better value and choice.”

    Swaraj had expressed confidence in a conversation with indiantelevision.com last Friday that the process of implementation of CAS should get the nod of the Rajya Sabha this week.

    Swaraj’s assertive stance on CAS followed soon after the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), after initial reservations on CAS, made it public that it supports the government’s initiatives on CAS.

  • Swaraj still to garner consensus on CAS bill

    Swaraj still to garner consensus on CAS bill

    NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Despite her comments to the contrary, consensus continues to elude I&B minister Sushma Swaraj on the passage of the Cable TV Regulation Amendment Bill 2002, which was again listed in the agenda of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Indian Parliament) for today but failed to come up for discussions.

    According to government officials, the Gujarat election issue and the recent terrorist attacks in Jammu with home minister and deputy prime minister LK Advani’s reply took up most of the day. While the CAS bill is likely to be listed again tomorrow, the likelihood of it coming up for discussions remains bleak.

    Swaraj was quoted by moneycontrol.com as saying: “I have talked to all the leaders, the members of the Parliament of different parties. I am hopeful that this time it will be passed, which is already listed and whatever they have to say, they will say it during discussion. I will answer. I am very hopeful that the bill will be passed.”

    However, political sources in the Capital said that the government (read Swaraj) is yet to get 100 per cent assurance from the Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha, especially the Congress Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), on the CAS issue.

    As of now, it appears that the CPM’s stand is that the CAS issue should be referred to the parliamentary standing committee for full discussions.

    That apart, in all probability the CAS bill will come up for discussion on Monday (I&B ministry’s day in RS) or some other week day next week. Unless of course Swaraj and parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan pull some aces out of their sleeves to gain an out-of-parliament consensus on the issue of CAS.

    The Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) has already okayed the amendments to the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act 1995, envisaging bringing addressability in Indian cable homes, during the last session of parliament through a voice vote.

    As things stand, CAS is unlikely to come up for discussion before next Monday because there are other issues and bills ahead in the queue for discussion tomorrow as well. And Friday is out of the question as the last day of the working week is reserved for the discussion of private member’s bills.

  • CAS bill debate not likely before next week

    CAS bill debate not likely before next week

    NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: The Cable TV Regulation Amendment Bill 2002 was again listed in the agenda of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Indian Parliament) for today as the third issue.

    But, government officials told indiantelevision.com around noon that the issue was highly unlikely to be taken up for discussion today as the Gujarat election issue and the recent terrorist attacks in Jammu is consuming most of the allotted time for debate.

    Even information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj, who interacted with journalists today to brief them about the Cabinet meeting held yesterday, was non-comittal chances of the on the CAS issue being discussed in the Rajya Sabha today. CAS was listed in the No. 7 slot yesterday.

    As things stand, CAS is unlikely to come up for discussion before next Monday because there are other issues and bills ahead in the queue for discussion tomorrow as well. And Friday is out of the question as the last day of the working week is reserved for the discussion of private member’s bills.

    It is also learnt from political sources in the Capital that the government (read Swaraj) is yet to get 100 per cent assurance from the Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha, especially the Congress Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), on the CAS issue.

    Therefore, in all probability it will come up for discussion on Monday (I&B ministry’s day in RS) or some other week day next week. Unless of course Swaraj and parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan pull some aces out of their sleeves to gain an out-of-parliament consensus on the issue of CAS.

    A senior Rajya Sabha MP belonging to the CPM said that Swaraj had held some discussions earlier on CAS, but in recent times the matter has not been discussed between his party and the BJP-led government.

    Rajya Sabha members have been saying that in principle they are not opposed to CAS or its implementation. But what they have been demanding is that the issue is discussed in the Upper House and pros and cons examined before RS okays the amendments.

    The Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) has already okayed the amendments to the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act 1995, envisaging bringing addressability in Indian cable homes, during the last session of parliament through a voice vote.

  • Unclear when CAS bill will come up for debate

    Unclear when CAS bill will come up for debate

    NEW DELHI: The information and broadcasting ministry managed to cross one big hurdle today. Get the Cable TV Network (Amendment) Bill 2002, which aims at facilitating addressability in Indian cable homes through conditional access system, listed on the agenda of business of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) of the Indian Parliament today.

    Now it will have to get the matter discussed in Parliament. Parliament’s Business advisory committee has approved the bill’s listing but when it will come up for hearing remains the question.

    Though it was listed for hearing today, the item occupied the No. 7 slot and could not be taken up for discussion.

    Since the CAS issue was not discussed today, it is expected that it will automatically figure in tomorrow’s agenda as well, by way of elimination of issues which are to be taken up for discussiion.

    However, according to latest indications, and judging from the manner in which other items on the agenda were disposed off, it may not come up for hearing tomorrow either.

  • CAS Bill not listed for tabling in RS this week

    CAS Bill not listed for tabling in RS this week

    NEW DELHI: The much-awaited Cable Networks (Regulations) Amendment Bill 2002, which aims at facilitating addressability in Indian cable homes through conditional access system (CAS), has not been listed in the agenda of business of the Indian Parliament’s Upper House (Rajya Sabha) for this week.

    Parliament, which reconvened today for the Winter Session, saw discussions on elections in the the strife-torn Gujarat state dominate the proceedings in the Lower House (Lok Sabha). The Rajya Sabha was adjourned as obituaries were read out, including that relating to media baron and Hindi-language newspaper Jagaran owner Narendra Mohan (a vocal supporter of FDI in the print medium) who died recently and was a sitting rajya Sabha MP.

    Government officials told indiantelevision.com today that CAS, a matter that could not get RS’ approval during the last session of Parliament due to its controversial nature, is not likely to be moved this week by the information and broadcasting ministry. Every ministry has a pre-determined day when issues relating to it are discussed in the two Houses of the Parliament. I&B ministry’s day in RS happens to be Monday.

    Will CAS be listed in RS next week? “We are not sure. It depends on I&B ministry and minister Sushma Swaraj,” was the vague reply given by a government official when quizzed on the issue.

    While the Lok Sabha has okayed the amendments to the Act facilitating CAS, RS members have shown more resilience and have refused to give a green signal before a proper discussion on the issue. Swaraj, who had earlier claimed some consensus on the matter, these days is noncommittal. “Let us say there is a broad agreement (on CAS),” she had said during an interaction with journalists last month on the occasion of the completion of three years (out of the mandated five) of the government.

    When indiantelevision.com spoke to some RS members of Parliament from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress — two main opponents to the smooth passage of the CAS — last week, they opined, in private, that left to themselves, they ideally would like to have some discussion on CAS before okaying it.

    During the last session of Parliament, CAS was listed on the agenda of the RS and later, because of apparent opposition from the Opposition members, had to be delisted in a bid to arrive at an out-of-Parliament consensus.

    Moreover, the issue of pricing of the basic tier of cable service, consisting of all free-to-air channels, is yet to be sorted out. At a recent meeting of the costing committee for CAS, which includes government as well as industry representatives, there was no unanimity on the price of the basic tier.

    The cable operators have been lobbying for the price to be in the range of Rs 125-150 per month per subscriber, but have indicated that an Rs 100 figure is something they can live with. This, of course, includes the Rs 30 flat service charge the government will extract per subscriber. The government (read the finance ministry), however, appears to have settled for an Rs 70 to 80 rate as being reasonable. Subtract the Rs 30 tax and what the cable ops have in hand per subscriber will be Rs 40 to 50. The viewers, of course, think that both the government and the industry are taking them for a ride.

    At a seminar on pay channels and CAS, organised by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) in Delhi last week, the response from some residents welfare associations (RWAs) was lukewarm – over 400 were invited and some 40 turned up – and those who did came down heavily on cable operators “for raising prices every three-four months.”

    When it was told to RWA representatives that CAS would solve much of their problems, the counter poser was it did not make sense for an average cable consumer to invest in the set-top boxes no matter how cheap they came. “Why should we (invest in STBs)?” was the question that reverberated throughout the seminar.

    Global hardware manufacturers like Philips and Thomson too, are not much enthused. A senior executive of Philips said, “The way (the) government is going, CAS may just end up as a bad piece of legislation leaving everybody unhappy.” He also pointed out that hardware manufacturers like Philips don’t see enough volumes being generated even if CAS is implemented for them to start manufacturing in India resulting in a fall in STB costs.

  • Stage set for CAS Bill introduction?

    Stage set for CAS Bill introduction?

    NEW DELHI: When Parliament reconvenes for its Winter Session from 18 November, the decks appear to be clear for the introduction of Bill incorporating amendments to the Cable TV (Network) Regulation Act, 1995, which will facilitate implementation of conditional access systems (CAS).

    The CAS Bill is however, unlikely to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the first week of the session. Reason: the first day, 18 November, is likely to see no business being transacted as obit references will be made before adjournment. The second day, 19 November, is a holiday on account of Guru Nanak Jayanti. That will leave just three days before the week comes to an end.

    “In all probability, CAS is likely to be discussed in the Rajya Sabha around 25 November,” a senior government official told indiantelevision.com in Delhi, adding that this is likely to be the schedule unless information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj literally steamrolls through CAS in the Rajya Sabha in the first week of the Parliament’s session. What lends credence to this possibility is that there is some speculation in the industry that the Bill could be introduced for discussion as early as 20 November.

    According to political sources, however, Swaraj is still to bring about a consensus amongst MPs in the Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha and in recent times no talks have been held with Rajya Sabha members of either the Congress or the Left parties.

    ‘400 Resident welfare associations’ in Delhi invited for CAS seminar’
    Some vocal supporters of CAS have, meanwhile, found a novel way of putting the issue back in the limelight just before Parliament reconvenes – seek resident welfare associations’ (RWAs) help in putting indirect pressure on policy-makers to hasten the passage of CAS in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament). It has already cleared the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament).

    In this connection, a day-long seminar has been scheduled for Thursday in Delhi where representatives from Delhi RWAs, the government, select cable operators, consumer action groups and media will discuss the issue of pricing of pay channels, the benefits of CAS and why it should be implemented ASAP.

    According to the chief architect of the Delhi-based National Cable & Telecom Association (NCTA) Vicky Choudhary, which is organising the meet, “Most channels revise upwardly their subscription fee around January which is likely to spark off another round of face-offs between subscribers and cable operators. That’s why we thought this day-long interaction would be useful.”

    Though Choudhary was evasive when asked whether this was being done, just days before Parliament reconvenes, to put indirect pressure on policy-makers, he did admit reluctantly: “Some residual effect will certainly be there (on members of Parliament of the Upper House or Rajya Sabha).”

    According to Choudhary, invitations for participation for Thursday’s meeting has gone out to over 400 RWAs, top government officials involved with policy-making on CAS and the media.

  • CAS bill in limbo after walkout in RS; govt. hoping to reintroduce it next week

    CAS bill in limbo after walkout in RS; govt. hoping to reintroduce it next week

    NEW DELHI: To reintroduce or not to reintroduce? That is the question exercising information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj. Well not this week anyway. The Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002, which was to be reintroduced in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) tomorrow, has again been kept back after the government’s failure to arrive at a consensus.

    To add to Swaraj’s woes, agitated opposition members staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha today charging the government with tacitly supporting the ongoing agitation by the cable fraternity in the capital, Mumbai and some other cities across the country.

    The Bill, which will set in motion the rollout of conditional access systems (CAS) in the country, is now likely to go through another round of consultations between the government and the opposition parties (principally the Congress and the left wing CPM) with a possible reintroduction next week.

    Rediff.com reported that several opposition members even charged the government with sponsoring the agitation by cable operators besides leaking the private discussions some of the members had with Swaraj yesterday.

    Deputy prime minister LK Advani, who was present in the House, denied the government had anything to do with the cable operators’ agitation.

    Leader of the opposition Manmohan Singh of the Congress said Advani’s remarks did not tally with media reports today that said Swaraj had assured cable operators that the government would get the Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha.

    “This only strengthens the suspicion that the government was aiding and abetting the cable operators’ strike,” Singh said. Unconvinced by the Advani’s response, the opposition staged a walkout. 

  • Govt. scheduled to reintroduce CAS bill Thursday

    Govt. scheduled to reintroduce CAS bill Thursday

    NEW DELHI: The conditional access system issue will be reintroduced in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) on Thursday, the information and broadcasting ministry announced this evening. 

    There is still no word as yet though whether the government has managed to work out a consensus on the contentious matter. It was because I&B minister Sushma Swaraj was not sure of getting a consensus to ensure passage through the Rajya Sabha the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002, that it was not introduced last week. 

    Swaraj decided to withdraw the bill for wider consultations last week after it became clear that Opposition leaders (with the tacit support of some influential ruling party members) would not allow the bill’s passage without wider discussions. 

    According to the information available, the left party CPM’s Nilotpaul Basu is slated to speak on the amendment being sought by the government in the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act, 1995. 

    The amendments to the Act were passed in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) on 15 May through a voice vote. 

  • CAS Bill being considered by Rajya Sabha, says confident Swaraj

    CAS Bill being considered by Rajya Sabha, says confident Swaraj

    NEW DELHI: The government today said that the Cable Television Networks (Regulations) Bill, 1995, already passed by the Lok Sabha, is being considered by the Rajya Sabha.

    Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha said that the Bill sought to mandate the viewing of pay channels through an addressable system and also empowered the government to notify from time to time and place to place, the maximum subscription charge of the basic tier of free to air channels. “The system is expected to be in the interest of consumer, cable service providers as well as broadcasters as it will bring transparency in the figures of viewership and will allow customers to choose and pay for channels they wish to watch,” she said.

    Her statement assumes significance in the wake of reports of the Bill having been stalled in the Upper House where the Opposition has the majority, and continuing threats by cable operators in the Capital to black out cable TV transmission from July 24 if the bill is not passed by then.