AIt has also removed any distinction between CAS and
non-CAS areas saying that for such erstwhile notified mandatory CAS
areas,where CAS was not actually implemented, the ceiling of 26 December,
2003, will
continue.
Trai had frozen cable services rates as of 26 December till further
notice. Subsequently, its recommendation to denotify CAS in the
four metros for three months was also upheld by the government.
In a clarification note issued today, the Telecom Regulatory Authority
of India (Trai)said, “Except Chennai Metropolitan Area, where interim
stay has been granted
by Madras (Chennai) high court in writ petition numbers 4863, 4890,
4936 and 4919 of 2004,the Order shall cover tariffs for all Telecommunication
(Broadcasting and
Cable)Services throughout the territory of India as also those originating
in India or outside India and terminating in India.
Trai has further stated that for those areas where CAS was implemented,
like in Chennai, CAS may continue on a “voluntary basis.
“For erstwhile notified mandatory CAS areas where CAS was implemented,
the Authority recognises that CAS may continue on a voluntary basis
and in such a case the ceiling would again be the rates prevailing
on 26 December, 2003,which the Authority recognises may have been
lower than the rates in non-CASareas,” the Trai note sates.
TRAI has added that the notification issued today is not applicable
for Chennai Metropolitan Area on account of
stay granted by a local high court.
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