Date:06/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/06/stories/2006090614620300.htm

New Delhi

TRAI amends Interconnection Regulation

Special Correspondent

To streamline arrangements among service providers for connection, revenue sharing

Broadcasters, distributors to give three weeks' notice before disconnecting a channel

Terms for providing signals to be specified within 60 days of making request

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued an amendment to the Interconnection Regulation to streamline arrangements among service providers for interconnection and revenue sharing for all broadcasting and cable services. It stipulated, among other things, a notice period of three weeks for disconnection of TV channel signals by a broadcaster to any distributor of TV channels.

Distributors also have to give three weeks' notice prior to disconnection of any TV channel. The amendment to the Interconnection Regulation of December 10, 2004, also makes the issuing of public notices in newspapers about the disconnection of TV signals compulsory. A broadcaster, multi-system operator or distributor of TV channels is also required to carry scrolls on the channel about the disconnection. It has been mandated that the broadcaster, multi-system operator (MSO) or their agents/intermediaries, to whom a request for providing TV channel signals is made, should either provide the signals on mutually agreed terms, or specify the terms and conditions on which they are willing to provide TV channel signals, within 60 days from the date of the request.

The methodology to arrive at the subscriber base of each distributor at the time of first agreement, during the validity of agreement and at the time of its renewal has been laid down.