Trai Set To Recommend Tighter Licensing For Cable Services

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TRAI set to recommend tighter licensing for cable services

4 Jul, 2008, 0002 hrs IST

NEW DELHI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is all set to recommend a tighter licensing regime for cable services with separate registration process for both MSOs and cable operators.

ET has also learnt that the regulator is looking at setting up separate monitoring cells for cable TV services at district, state and central level.

Besides, TRAI will also specify quality of service norms that will have to be mandatorily followed by all cable operators across the country. The regulator is of the view that these steps will help restructure the fragmented cable industry in the country and also improve the service quality.

The regulator is expected to submit its recommendations to the Information & Broadcasting ministry early next week. The regulator is likely to recommend the formation of a centralised registration and monitoring process, in a bid to correct the current procedure where any individual can register in a post office to open a cable network. In addition, the centralised authority would be expected to streamline the registration process, data collection and monitoring to ensure better cable TV services for consumers.

According to industry estimates, there are over 70,000 cable operators in the country. However, official estimates peg the figure at only 20,000 cable operators. TRAI believes the new registration process would be able to correctly estimate the size of the industry. In a bid to encourage transparency, a new system of billing and monitoring for cable networks is likely to be suggested as part of the quality of standards for cable service networks. The consultation paper would suggest consumer grievance redressal mechanisms.

The regulator is also likely to stress on the need for creation of a standard procedure formulated for guiding consumers on getting new connection, desired content, disconnection of existing connection and complaint handling procedure. The regulator is also learnt to be of the view that while consolidation of the largely fragmented sector is necessary however it should not hurt the interests of small and independent cable operator. Digitalisation plan by 2011, HITS policy and the cable services restructuring plan are considered to be three most important policy changes for the broadcasting sector.