Greater Guwahati Cable TV Operators Association (GGCTOA) has recently submitted a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi seeking his intervention for implementation of Cable TV & TRAI Act in State.
In the memorandum association has submitted that in the initial stages of this industry, most of the operators owned their personal control rooms, from which they served their consumers, but with advent of time, technology, manipulation & highhandedness of Broadcasters of Pay Channels, the small operators are being compelled to shut down their control rooms & take signals or service from MSOs.
They have further alleged that the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), Govt of India along with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have failed to protect the rights & privileges of the LMO/LCO for which several representations & appeals have been submitted to MIB & TRAI but to no avail. The policies & guidelines framed for Digitalisation do not support the needs of thousands of LMO/LCO. They are being deprived of their fundamental right to run their business resulting in mass unemployment in the state.
Keeping above things in mind GGCTOA has urged CM to safeguard & protect the interest of small operators by proper implementation of provisions of the Cable TV Act & TRAI Act and also protect the right of consumers.
To take up with MIB & TRAI for extension of DAS until pending court cases on the matter are disposed off.
To take up with TRAI & MIB, Government of India for making schemes for educating, the stake holders at State Level; prepare special policy in rates of Pay Channels & various taxes for North East taking into consideration the political, industrial & economic scenario of this region.
To take measures for curbing irregularities & malpractices by various stake holders, especially Broadcasters by empowering the proposed State Level Monitoring Committee to resolve disputes.
To initiate steps to provide infrastructure, like access to Fiber Cable Network of ASWAN, subsidized electricity, permission of laying underground cable in soft terms, easy finance facility from Government or Semi Government organizations to the registered local operators. To safeguard and protect the interest of the indigenous educated unemployed youth engaged in cable TV operation from exploitation by multinational or corporate players.
To take up with Broadcasters of National level Pay Channels for providing subsidized packages for North Eastern States.
To constitute a task force immediately at state level to formulate policies, take measures to implement the provisions of Cable TV Act & TRAI Act at State Level to co-ordinate, correspond, liaison with TRAI, MIB about recent laws and rules to liaison, correspond with Broadcasters, Cable TV Operators- MSO, LMO/LCO & instruct them accordingly for compliance & monitor their activities etc.
Composition of Task Force as suggested is:-
State Govt nominated IAS level officer
State Police department nominated IGP level officer.
Representatives of major pay broadcasters.
Representatives of MSO, LMO/LCO.
The Association has also demanded the State Government to depute specialised individuals to suggest measures to prevent the concentration of huge financial resources generated from Cable TV industry by illegal means by certain individuals.
The Government should involve also have a special department for the industry to secure the livelihood of thousands of individuals involved in the industry & above all protect the interest of the consumers.
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/digitization-news/item/5700-ggctoa-urges-assam-cm-to-protect-and-safeguard-interest-of-cable-operators.html
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