The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017
Key Highlights of New Tariff Order and Interconnection Agreement:
Telecom Regulatory of India (TRAI) had rolled out a draft telecom tariff order (TTO) in October 2016. Post final approval from supreme court of India TRAI rolled out Tariff Order and New Interconnection regulation on 03 March 2017. This time TRAI have attempted to ensure transparency, non-discrimination, consumer protection and create an enabling environment for orderly growth of the sector. Following points specified in the regulation will have an impact on the broadcasting sector:
Multi-system Operators/Distributors:
– New regulation demands declaration of following details to the authority & on a public portal, every distributor of television channels shall, within thirty days from the commencement of these regulations or within thirty days from the commencement of its operations, as the case may be, on its website, publish:
Target markets as declared under sub-regulation wherein every distributor of television channel shall declare coverage area of each distribution network;
The total channel carrying capacity of its distribution network in terms of number of standard definition channels;
List of channels available on the network;
Number of channels for which signals of television channels have been requested by the distributor from broadcasters and the interconnection agreements signed;
Spare channel capacity available on the network for carrying signals of television channels; and list of channels, in chronological order, for which requests have been received from broadcasters for distribution of their channels, the interconnection agreements have been signed and are pending for distribution due to non-availability of the spare channel capacity.
– Regulatory also mandated the MSOs to specify the territories of interconnection agreement. Following are the details for describing the territories for distribution of signals of television channels:
The registered area of operation of the multi-system operator as mentioned in the registration granted by the central government;
The names of specific areas for which distribution of signals of television channels has been agreed, initially, at the time of signing of the interconnection agreement; and
The names of the corresponding states/union territories in which such agreed areas as referred to in clause (b) of this sub-regulation are located.
– Compliance officer will be designated by the broadcaster and the distributor of television channel; who will ensure:
generating awareness for ensuring compliance with the provisions of these regulations;
reporting to the Authority, with respect to compliance with these regulations and directions of the Authority issued under these regulations; and
ensuring that proper procedures have been established and are being followed for compliance of these regulations.
– To ensure smooth functioning and speedy restoration, the MSO will have to provide the LCO with at least 2% of total STBs active in LCO’s network with an upper cap of 30 spare STBs — as maintenance which are not pre-activated.
– Distributors of television channels shall submit monthly subscription reports of channels and bouquet of channels to respective broadcasters as per the format specified under the Schedule VII, within seven days from the end of each calendar month. However, broadcasters will hold the authority to disconnect its television channel after giving a written three weeks’ notice, if DPOs…
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