Operators move Trai, TDSAT over CAS issue

Cable Operator Welfare Association, the apex body of the operators, has written to both Telecom Disputes and Settlements Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) as well as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) opposing the implementation of the Common Access System (CAS).

The association's president, Kaushik Shah said the cable operators are still in dark over the business model for them.

Romel Vaz, who runs Perfect Vision, a cable operator in Byculla, South Mumbai, said, "While it is clear that the collections in the CAS regime will be handled by us, it is not clear who will bill the customer. And if it is the multi service operator (MSO) who bills the customer, we have no way of finding out how many homes the MSO is catering to, which could lead to under declaration by them and give total control to the MSOs."

Vipul Shah of Vipul Vision, a cable operator, pointed out that in the current system, subscribers are aware of their operator's brand name in that particular area.

"With the launch of CAS, the MSO will use our infrastructure on the back of its brand name, making us non-entities." he said.

The operators added that the maintenance and ungradation of cable network is done by the cable operator, but in the CAS regime, they are unaware as to who would meet the upgradation expenses at the subscriber's end.

Shah said the TRAI has earmarked just Rs 72 for the free-to-air (FTA) channels which was not sustainable for cable operators. He added,"While MSOs are free to negotiate on carriage and placement fees and broadcastors are free to price their channels, we have received a raw deal."

Reiterating this point, Abdul Aziz, who runs Cable Vision in the Nagpada area stated,"Star charges Rs 60 for its bouquet in India and Rs 1 in Pakistan. What kind of logical pricing is that? Why isn't TRAI interventing in these issues?"

Vaz said that while they were aware of their responsibilities, they are completely in the dark about their rights and about what is being done to safegauard their business.

"We need a representation of TRAI in the other metros as cable operators cannot keep going to Delhi to resove their issues."