JOIN USThe Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has set January 31 as the deadline for ‘Digital Addressable Cable TV System’ consumers in Bangalore and Mysore.
This would mean that installation of set-top boxes, collecting consumer application forms (CAF) and updating of subscriber management system (SMS) is to be completed by the end of the month. Accordingly, all consumers have to fill in the forms obtaining the same from their respective cable operators so that their details get updated in the system.
Addressing mediapersons here on Friday, Sibichen K Mathew, Advisor, TRAI, said if the process is not complete by the end of January, signals would be taken off and such subscribers will not have access to the television channels. The earlier deadline was March 31, 2013, which was later extended to November and then to December 31, 2013.
“There has been 90 percent compliance in Mysore while it is only 80 percent in Bangalore. Consumers still lack awareness about the formalities. We want to ensure 100 percent compliance in both the cities by the end of January,” Mathew said.
TRAI has given time till March 31, 2014, for all other municipalities and corporations in the State to comply with the norms. “By the end of this year, TRAI wants to achieve complete compliance across the country,” he added.
With regard to billing, TRAI has mandated uniform billing and billing per channel. Bills will have to contain breakup of charges and subscribers have been asked to insist on a receipt, on every bill. As far as the set-top boxes are concerned, cable operators have been asked to give a minimum warranty period of one year. Also, operators will have to return the deposit amount to the consumer when their set-top boxes are returned to them. The multi system operators (MSO) have also been asked to establish complaint centres so that consumers can approach them to redress issues.