Date:13/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/13/stories/2006061304040400.htm

Back Draft CAS pact forms released

Our Bureau

TRAI seeks comments by June 27

New Delhi , June 12

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday released the proposed standard forms of Interconnect Agreements for CAS areas between Broadcasters & Multi System Operators and between Multi System Operators & Local Cable Operators.

In a statement TRAI has said that the draft agreement contains a numbers of sections and provisions including what the revenue sharing should be. The actual revenue share percentage has been left blank in the draft and is proposed to be filled after getting comments of the shareholders, the statement added.

Besides, TRAI has also sought comments on whether there should be a uniform revenue share percentage between all broadcasters and MSOs and also between the MSO and local cable operators and if this is the case what should be the revenue share between broadcasters and MSO and between MSO and local cable operators.

In addition, TRAI has also sought comments on whether there should be a different revenue percentage share for different broadcasters and if so should the rates for different broadcasters prevailing in Chennai be adopted in other CAS notified areas also. Further, TRAI has also sought comments on whether there is any other alternative method of arriving at the revenue share percentages between the broadcasters and MSOs and local cable operators.

TRAI has sought comments by June 27. This comes after the Delhi High Court in March this year directed that CAS be implemented in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. Following this the Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting held a series of meeting with the stakeholders to firm up plans for roll out of CAS.