11

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

Regulation of Broadcasting & Cable TV Services

TDSAT Seminar on Dispute Resolution & Redressal of Consumers’ Grievances

Ranchi : 22.11.2008

22

Regulatory Framework for Regulatory Framework for Broadcasting in IndiaBroadcasting in India

• Ministry of Information & Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Broadcasting

- - Policy, Licensing of broadcasting sector, Policy, Licensing of broadcasting sector, Content regulations, spectrum allocation Content regulations, spectrum allocation

• TRAI TRAI -- Regulator for tariff, interconnection, Regulator for tariff, interconnection,

quality quality of serviceof service• TDSAT TDSAT

–– Dispute settlement (original jurisdiction)Dispute settlement (original jurisdiction)-- AppealsAppeals

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Telecom Regulatory Authority Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (of India (TRAI )TRAI )

• Created by an Act of Parliament, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.

• Broadcasting sector came under purview of TRAI in 2004

• Carriage regulation is done by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

• Content regulation is still done by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India

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Functions of TRAIFunctions of TRAI

AApart from part from recommendatory recommendatory

functions, the mandatory functions, the mandatory

functions of TRAI are –functions of TRAI are –

•TariffTariff

• InterconnectionInterconnection

•Quality of ServiceQuality of Service

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Sector as a wholeSector as a whole• Total Cable &Satellite Households - 82 Million • Registered Private Satellite TV channels – 370• Number of Multi System Operators ~6000 • Number of Cable Operators ~60,000• 2 HITS permission holders• Conditional Access System for cable services mandated in 4

cities – around 0.7 M STBs deployed• Terrestrial Television Broadcasting by Doordarshan through

its 1500 transmitters and 66 Studio centres across the country serving 40 Million Households

• 5 Private DTH Operators operational apart from Doordarshan

• 236 private FM radio stations apart from All India Radio• 35 community Radio Licencees• One Satellite radio Operator

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Applicable InstrumentsApplicable Instruments

• Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 as amendedAct, 1995 as amended

• Cable Television Networks Rule 1994 as Cable Television Networks Rule 1994 as amendedamended

• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 as amended 1997 as amended

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OthersOthers

• Prasar Bharti (Broadcasting Corporation of Prasar Bharti (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act 1990 as amended India) Act 1990 as amended

• Sports Broadcasting Signal (mandatory Sharing Sports Broadcasting Signal (mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007

• Policy Guidelines for uplinking from IndiaPolicy Guidelines for uplinking from India

• Policy Guidelines for downlinking of Television Policy Guidelines for downlinking of Television ChannelsChannels

• Guidelines for obtaining DTH license ..and so onGuidelines for obtaining DTH license ..and so on

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Different mode of receiving Different mode of receiving signalssignals

• Through Cable TV Through Cable TV

Analog – un addressableAnalog – un addressable

Digital- AddressableDigital- Addressable

• Through Terrestrial TransmissionThrough Terrestrial Transmission

• Through DTHThrough DTH

• Through IPTVThrough IPTV

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Need of the ConsumerNeed of the Consumer

• The three dimensions of the servicesThe three dimensions of the services

• AAvailability of platforms, contentsvailability of platforms, contents

• AAffordable price ffordable price

• AAcceptable qualitycceptable quality

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Steps by TRAISteps by TRAI

The steps taken by TRAI to The steps taken by TRAI to

implement its functions on implement its functions on

•TariffTariff

•InterconnectionInterconnection

•Quality of ServiceQuality of Service

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TariffTariff

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Initiative taken by TRAI

Non CAS AreasNon CAS Areas

• Cap on monthly cable charges prescribed Cap on monthly cable charges prescribed

• in non- CAS areas in non- CAS areas

• On a-la-carte prices of channels for CAS areasOn a-la-carte prices of channels for CAS areas

• Limits prescribed for relationship between Limits prescribed for relationship between

a-la-carte and bouquet prices by broadcastersa-la-carte and bouquet prices by broadcasters

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Ceiling for non-CAS Area

•

Serial numb

er (1)

Number of pay channels and Free to Air channels (FTA) to be transmitted or re-transmitted through the cable television

network. (2)

Maximum amount of charges payable by a subscriber per month for first television connection (exclusive of all taxes) for Pay channels

and Free to Air channels mentioned under column (2)(3)

Pay channels. 2(a)

Free to Air channels.

2(b)

A-1 and A Class cities. 3(a)

B-1 and B-2 Class cities. 3(b)

Other areas. 3(c)

1. No pay channel minimum 30 FTA channels

Not exceeding Rs 77/- only.

Not exceeding Rs 77/- only.

Not exceeding Rs 77/- only.

2. Upto 20 pay channels. minimum 30 FTA channels

Not exceeding Rs 160/- only.

Not exceeding Rs 140/- only.

Not exceeding Rs 130/- only.

3. More than 20 and upto 30 pay channels.

minimum 30 FTA channels

Not exceeding Rs 200/-only.

Not exceeding Rs 170/- only.

Not exceeding Rs 160/- only.

4. More than 30 and upto 45 pay channels.

minimum 30 FTA channels

Not exceeding Rs 235/- only .

Not exceeding Rs 200/- only.

Not exceeding Rs 185/- only.

5. More than 45 pay channels.

minimum 30 FTA channels

Not exceeding Rs 260/- only.

Not exceeding Rs 220/- only.

Not exceeding Rs 200/-only.

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Initiative taken by TRAI -Contd.

CAS AreasCAS Areas

• Tariff order on Tariff order on – Pricing of Basic Service Tier (Rs. 77 p.m. + Pricing of Basic Service Tier (Rs. 77 p.m. +

taxes)taxes)– Pricing of Pay Channels (Ceiling of Rs. 5 per Pricing of Pay Channels (Ceiling of Rs. 5 per

channel per subscriber per month) along with channel per subscriber per month) along with channels available on a-la-carte basis channels available on a-la-carte basis

– Standard Tariff Packages for renting of Set Standard Tariff Packages for renting of Set Top Boxes ( I. Rs. 999 + Rs. 30 p.m. and Top Boxes ( I. Rs. 999 + Rs. 30 p.m. and II. Rs. 250 + Rs. 45 p.m.)II. Rs. 250 + Rs. 45 p.m.)

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Quality of ServiceQuality of Service

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Quality of Service Regulations

• Regulation on Quality of Services for Regulation on Quality of Services for CAS areasCAS areas

• Regulation on Quality of Service and Regulation on Quality of Service and Redressal of Grievances for DTHRedressal of Grievances for DTH

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QoS for cable services in CAS Areas

• Regulation on Quality of Service for Regulation on Quality of Service for CAS areas onCAS areas on

Connection - within two working days of the Connection - within two working days of the completion of the formalitiescompletion of the formalities

Disconnection - written notice of at least 15 daysDisconnection - written notice of at least 15 days Shifting - five working days from the date of requestShifting - five working days from the date of request Complaints Complaints

– At least 90% of "No Signal" calls received shall be At least 90% of "No Signal" calls received shall be corrected within 24 hourscorrected within 24 hours

– At least 90% of all other types of complaints shall At least 90% of all other types of complaints shall be corrected within 48 hoursbe corrected within 48 hours

Billing related complaints - To be addressed within 7 Billing related complaints - To be addressed within 7 days of noticedays of notice

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QoS for cable services in CAS Areas -Contd.

• Regulation on Quality of Service for CAS Regulation on Quality of Service for CAS areas on (Contd.)areas on (Contd.)

STB related complaints - repair or replacement, STB related complaints - repair or replacement, within 24 hours of receipt of the complaintwithin 24 hours of receipt of the complaint

Change in positioning of channels - 3 days advance Change in positioning of channels - 3 days advance notice to subscribersnotice to subscribers

Public Awareness Campaign - MSOs were required to Public Awareness Campaign - MSOs were required to carry out a public awareness campaign about the carry out a public awareness campaign about the salient features of the provisions contained in the salient features of the provisions contained in the QoS regulation for CAS areas QoS regulation for CAS areas

Taking the channel off air – 3 weeks notice is must Taking the channel off air – 3 weeks notice is must either by an advertisement in 2 local newspapers, or either by an advertisement in 2 local newspapers, or by running a scroll in the relevant channelby running a scroll in the relevant channel

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QoS for cable services in non-CAS Areas

• Issuance of monthly Issuance of monthly billbill and proper and proper receiptreceipt• Bill Bill should contain should contain number of FTA and Pay number of FTA and Pay

channelschannels• Provide Provide informationinformation regarding change of regarding change of

channels in cable service to the customerschannels in cable service to the customers• Taking the channel off air – notice is Taking the channel off air – notice is

must by an advertisement in 2 local must by an advertisement in 2 local newspapers, and also may inform by newspapers, and also may inform by running a scroll in the relevant channelrunning a scroll in the relevant channel

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QoS Regulations for DTH Services • Connection, disconnection, transfer and shifting of Connection, disconnection, transfer and shifting of

cable servicescable services The DTH operator will devise the format for application The DTH operator will devise the format for application

form, and will assign a customer identification number form, and will assign a customer identification number to to each such application received. to to each such application received.

Provide connection to every person subject to technical Provide connection to every person subject to technical and operational feasibility application receivedand operational feasibility application received

A time limit of 5 working days has been prescribed for A time limit of 5 working days has been prescribed for complying with requests relating to shifting, complying with requests relating to shifting, disconnection and reconnection.disconnection and reconnection.

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QoS regulations for DTH Service(QoS regulations for DTH Service(contdcontd.) .)

• Complaint handling and redressal Complaint handling and redressal Establish Call centre with toll-free number Complain to be assigned a docket number by call centre 90% call of no signal within 24 Hrs, other complaints

within 48 Hrs, no complaint remain beyond 5 days All billing complaints to be resolved within 7 days Nodal office to be appointed for each state for redressal

of grievances of those subscribers who are not satisfied with the redressal at call centre level. , redressal of the grievances within 10 days of registering of the complaint.

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QoS regulations for DTH Service(QoS regulations for DTH Service(contdcontd.).)

• Plans and Billing related Plans and Billing related The subscription package offered to a subscriber will

not be changed for 6 months. However, the subscriber can opt out of a particular package for any other package at any time.

Post paid subscribers, if any, will be issued bills containing details such as charges for subscription package, value added services, customer premises equipments, taxes etc.

Provision of itemized usage charges to pre-paid Provision of itemized usage charges to pre-paid subscribers on demand on a reasonable costsubscribers on demand on a reasonable cost

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QoS regulations for DTH Service(QoS regulations for DTH Service(contdcontd.).)

• customer premises equipments (CPEs) related

schemes to offer CPEs to its subscribers on outright purchase basis, hire-purchase basis and rental basis. Scheme for refund in case of hire-purchase

set top box (STB) not to be disabled if the subscriber has opted out of his service, and there are no dues

• Taking the channel off air DTH operator will give notice for discontinuing a

channel

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InterconnectionInterconnection

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Initiative taken by TRAIInitiative taken by TRAI

InterconnectionInterconnection Broadcasters “must provide” content on Broadcasters “must provide” content on

non-discriminatory termsnon-discriminatory terms Broadcasters to provide all channels on a-Broadcasters to provide all channels on a-

la-carte basis to cable and DTH platformsla-carte basis to cable and DTH platforms Limits prescribed for relationship betweenLimits prescribed for relationship between

a-la-carte and bouquet prices by a-la-carte and bouquet prices by broadcastersbroadcasters

Broadcasters directed to provide channels Broadcasters directed to provide channels to DTH through RIO at reasonable ratesto DTH through RIO at reasonable rates

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Steps taken by TRAI on the digitalization of the services

• Facilitated successful roll out of addressable Facilitated successful roll out of addressable digital cable services (CAS) in the notified areas digital cable services (CAS) in the notified areas of Delhi, Mumbai & Kolkata by laying down of Delhi, Mumbai & Kolkata by laying down appropriate regulatory framework.appropriate regulatory framework.

• An expert group was formed by TRAI on An expert group was formed by TRAI on digitalization and introduction of voluntary CAS digitalization and introduction of voluntary CAS for extension of CAS to 55 more cities in a well for extension of CAS to 55 more cities in a well defined time frame. The report of the group was defined time frame. The report of the group was forwarded to the Government for further action. forwarded to the Government for further action.

• Recommended opening up of Terrestrial TV Recommended opening up of Terrestrial TV transmission for Private Sector and to allow both transmission for Private Sector and to allow both analogue and digital transmission.analogue and digital transmission.

• Recommended a national plan for digitalization of Recommended a national plan for digitalization of cable television, by March 2010, on a voluntary cable television, by March 2010, on a voluntary basis. basis.

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Other initiatives

• Recommended a framework for “head-end in the Recommended a framework for “head-end in the sky (HITS)” which would enable digitalization of sky (HITS)” which would enable digitalization of cable transmission with addressability for the whole cable transmission with addressability for the whole country at one go.country at one go.

• Recommendations on IPTV, and on Mobile TVRecommendations on IPTV, and on Mobile TV• The tariff ceilings for non CAS areas have not been The tariff ceilings for non CAS areas have not been

made applicable to cases of transmission or made applicable to cases of transmission or retransmission of channels through cable television retransmission of channels through cable television network using addressable systems, which therefore network using addressable systems, which therefore becomes an incentive for digitalization.becomes an incentive for digitalization.

• Recommendations on restructuring of cable TV Recommendations on restructuring of cable TV sector, which mandates compulsory digitalisation sector, which mandates compulsory digitalisation within five years.within five years.

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Thank youThank you(visit at : (visit at : www.trai.gov.inwww.trai.gov.in))