Trai questions govt's jurisdiction over processing charges on broadcasters

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has sent out a letter to the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B), questioning its jurisdiction to impose “processing” charges on broadcasters without asking for Trai’s recommendations. 

The I&B ministry had issued a circular last December asking national TV channels for Rs 100,000 and regional broadcasters for Rs 50,000 every time they asked for permission to temporary uplink a live event, change their channel name or logo or their satellite amongst others. Trai, in its letter, has said the order passed by the I&B ministry should have been avoided, as any change of the