Amendments to regulatory framework for broadcasting and cable services

Source- This post on the Amendments to regulatory framework for broadcasting and cable services has been created based on the article “TRAI notifies amendments to regulatory framework for broadcasting and cable services and releases” published in “PIB” on 9 July 2024.

Recently, TRAI notified amendments to regulatory framework for broadcasting and cable services and releases.

Amendments Issued:

i) Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Eighth) (Addressable Systems) Tariff (Fourth Amendment) Order, 2024 (1 of 2024).

ii) Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Sixth Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (4 of 2024).

iii) Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Addressable Systems) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (3 of 2024).

iv) Objective: The primary objective of these amendments includes the following:

a) Facilitate growth of the broadcasting sector by reducing regulatory mandates and compliance requirements.

b) Provide flexibility to the service providers to adopt a market driven approach while safeguarding the interest of the consumers and small players through transparency, accountability and equitability.

c) Promoting ease of doing business by simplifying the regulatory provisions.

Key Changes

1. Tariff Order:

i) Removed NCF ceilings; charges to be market-driven and transparent.

ii) Increased bouquet discount limit to 45%.

iii) Pay channels on DTH must be free-to-air on all platforms.

iv) DPOs must declare platform service tariffs.

2. Interconnection Regulations: Removed HD and SD channel distinction for carriage fees and simplified, technology-neutral carriage fee regime.

3. QoS Regulations:

i) Service charges under forbearance; DPOs to publish charges.

ii) Relaxed compliance for small DPOs.

iii) Prepaid subscription duration to be in days.

iv) EPG must show DRP, MRP, and categorize platform services.

4. Financial Disincentives are introduced for regulatory contraventions.

5. Publication of Information: Service providers to publish and communicate all tariff and charge information.

UPSC Syllabus: Governance