Cable operators from the State are likely to raise a number of issues concerning the sector in Tamil Nadu at an open house called for by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in Bengaluru on June 15.
The regulator has invited cable operators from all the southern States for a meeting with its Chairman R.S. Sharma, according to cable operators. About 200-250 cable operators from Tamil Nadu are likely to attend the meeting and submit their grievances to the Chairman, the key being the case of DAS licence stuck at the Madras High Court. “We will raise the issue of the Digital Addressable System (DAS) licence and tariff disputes with the TRAI Chairman,” G. Dhamodaran, secretary, Tamizhaga Cable TV Operators Association (TCOA) said.
Gokul Doss, State president, Tamil Nadu Cable TV Service Providers Association, said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) needs to ensure that it replies to the case at the earliest so that a resolution is reached. Mr. Dhamodaran said since there was no clarity on whether Arasu cable would get the DAS licence, the association would raise the issue of individual MSOs with licence needing the support of the government to roll out their services.
He also said TRAI’s recommendation on revenue sharing between the MSO and LCO needs to be revised. “Currently, MSOs get 55 per cent and LCOs get 45 per cent,” he said.
They hoped that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa would raise the issue of the DAS licence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when she meets him on June 14 in New Delhi.
Over 200 cable operators will be attending an open house in Bengaluru on Wednesday
