Local Cable Operators (LCO) have demanded revival of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2011, as they feel the present Bill has not only hit their business badly, but also lacks clarity. Voicing their demand under the banner Seemandhra Cable Operators’ Welfare Association, the members said that the Bill has no provision for the LCOs and they were marginalised and ignored.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, association president P. Diwakar pointed out that the then UPA government had passed the digitisation of cable network bill under the TRAI guidelines but the LCOs, who are the implementers, were neither consulted nor their interests taken care of.
“The property and infrastructure belong to the LCOs, but the cream is taken by the MSO (Multi System Operator). There is an agreement between the Broadcaster and the MSO and between the MSO and the consumer, but there is no agreement with the LCO,” he said.
Further, the consumers were being taxed unnecessarily. “Earlier, the entire package would come at Rs. 150. But now for every a-la-carte pay channel, the consumer has to pay Rs.150 plus taxes,” said Mr. Diwakar.
Substandard STBs According to association general secretary B. Pothana Reddy, the set-top boxes (STB) that are being imported are sub-standard and do not even have an ISI marking. So far the government has imported about 3 crore STBs and in Visakhapatnam city there are about 5 lakh STB installations. “Neither the STBs are of good quality, nor the government has provided any service centre, and this is making our life miserable as the consumers question us and not the MSO,” he lamented.
Mr. Diwakar opined out that a new bill should be drafted, safeguarding the interest of the LCO. The association members plan to meet Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar shortly with a memorandum. “It is nation-wide issue and the digitisation concept was introduced in 38 metro cities and we are in touch with other LCO associations in different cities,” said Mr. Diwakar.
