TRAI tariff order, interconnect regulations; date for responses extended

TRAI tariff order, interconnect regulations; date for responses extended

TRAI

NEW DELHI: Stakeholders wanting to give in their reactions to the latest draft Tariff order for Digital Addressable Systems, the Quality of Service and Consumer Protection Regulations, and the draft interconnect regulations have been given time till 15 November 2016 to respond.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, which had issued these three documents, had earlier given other dates but has given a final extension to give an opportunity to the stakeholders to offer their comments but has made it clear that there will be no further extensions.

The documents have been issued after considering the views expressed by the stakeholders during the consultation process and internal analysis of TRAI.

Clearly, this is because the final phase of DAS comes into effect from 1 January 2017.  

The Draft "Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services (Eighth) (Addressable Systems) Tariff Order 2016 and the Draft "The Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Digital Addressable Systems) Regulations 2016 had been issued on 10 October 2016.

Later, TRAI had issued the Draft Interconnection Regulation for TV Broadcasting Services provided through Addressable Systems on 14 October 2016.

In a note on its website, TRAI said the whole process had begun when it issued a Consultation Paper on "Tariff  Issues related to TV Services" on 29 January 2016 in order to holistically review the existing regulatory framework for TV broadcasting services delivered through addressable systems. TRAI had also issued a Consultation Paper on "Interconnection framework for Broadcasting TV Services distributed through Addressable Systems" on 4 May 2016 inviting comments. Subsequently, a Consultation Paper on "Issues related to Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection for TV Broadcasting Services" was issued on 18 May 2016.

In order to further discuss with the stakeholders, the issues involved in the said consultation papers, Open House Discussions (OHDs) were also conducted on all the three consultation papers.

Also read

http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/trai-releases-draft-tariff-consumer-das-regulations-161010

http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/offer-premium-channels-as-a-la-carte-dont-bundle-trai-161010

http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/trai-may-check-broadcasters-distributors-monopolistic-behaviour-161012

and

http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/trai-issues-comprehensive-interconnect-draft-guidelines-161014