The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on June 11, 2021 has issued the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2021 to further amend the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017.
The following amendment in the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017 are as follows: -
• In Regulation 4 which specifies Procedure for new connection, Regulation 4A which stated ‘Compliance to requirements of Addressable System by distributors of television channels’ shall be inserted, namely: -
1) Every distributor of television channel shall, from such date and after such testing and certification, as may be specified by the Authority by order, deploy such conditional access system and subscriber management system which conform to the requirements as specified in the Schedule IX.
2) If a distributor fails to obtain the certification of the conditional access system and/or subscriber management system deployed in its network within the stipulated timelines, as specified by the Authority under sub-regulation (1), it shall, without prejudice to the terms and conditions of its license or permission or registration, or the Act or rules or regulations or orders made, or directions issued, there-under, be liable to pay, by way of financial disincentive, an amount of rupees one thousand per day for default up to thirty days beyond the due date and an additional amount of rupees two thousand per day in case the default continues beyond thirty days from the due date, as the Authority may, by order, direct.
• A new Schedule IX which specifies “Conditional Access System (CAS) and Subscriber Management System (SMS)” shall be inserted.
This notification shall come into force on June 11, 2021.
[Notification No - RG-1/2/(3)/2021-B AND CS(2)]
