TRAI releases consultation paper on "Tariff Issues Related to Broadcasting and Cable TV Services for Commercial Subscribers"

TRAI has today released a Consultation Paper on “Tariff Issues Related to Broadcasting and Cable TV Services for Commercial Subscribers”, inviting views/comments of the stakeholders. 

The matter of Tariff for commercial subscribers has been under judicial scrutiny since 2005, before, both, the Hon’ble Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The Authority meanwhile, based on the interim order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 19.10.2006, had issued Tariff Amendment Orders, on 21.11.2006, applicable on commercial subscribers. These orders too were contested before the judicial forums. In the latest order dated 16.04.2014, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has directed that for a period of three months, the impugned tariff, which is in force as on today, shall continue. Further, within these 3 months, TRAI shall look into the matter de novo and shall re–determine the tariff after hearing the contentions of all the stakeholders. 

Accordingly, after analyzing the issues involved, TRAI has come out with this Consultation Paper (CP). In this CP, key issues for consultation are: 

• Definitions of the ‘commercial subscriber’, ‘commercial establishment’; 

• Manners of offering of TV services to the commercial subscribers; and 

• Various alternatives of tariff for the commercial subscribers. 

As part of the consultative process, this consultation paper has been uploaded on the TRAI website, seeking comments/views of the stakeholders. Keeping in view the timelines mentioned in the court order, stakeholders have been requested to offer their views/comments latest by 27th June 2014. The comments may be sent, preferably in the electronic form to Mr. Wasi Ahmad, Advisor (B&CS), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Mahanagar Doorsanchar Bhawan, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, New Delhi – 110002, (Tel No. - 011-23237922, Fax No. - 011-23220442) on the e-mail address advbcs@trai.gov.in or traicable@yahoo.co.in. Comments received will be posted on the website of TRAI. 

Full text of the CP is available on TRAI website www.trai.gov.in.