| The
directive also said that such itemised bills
for the months of July, August, September
and October would have to be give to each
subscriber by 1 December and a compliance
report has to be filed with Trai.
This
has not been done, according to information
available with Indiantelevision.com. Trai
has been repeatedly saying that the period
of forbearance is over starting 31 July,
and strict action will be taken against
MSOs for not enforcing Quality of Service.
The
directive had made it clear that the MSOs
would send a single bill to the subscriber
who opts for both the basic tier and pay
channels, with each channel opted for mentioned
against the price for it.
In
the case of subscribers who opt for only
the basic tier, local cable operators (LCOs)
would raise the bill and charge their money
(Rs 77) and there should be a single bill.
This
directive was issued in the nature of a
clarification when the MSOs last month pointed
out about some anomalies in the regulation
on this issue. The MSOs had pointed out
that whatever final directive Trai gives
would be acceptable.
Customers
of all MSOs in Delhi said there has been
no compliance with the directive. Till 1
December no subscriber has received the
itemised bills for the months July through
October.
Trai
officials said that the matter would be
taken up for action soon by the authority.
However,
the time limit before action is taken has
still to be decided, as the deadline has
just ended on Saturday.
On
the matter relating to a la carte pricing
in non Cas areas, Trai has said that action
would be taken against broadcasters if they
fail to report the channel prices by 7 December.
The
a la carte (4 October) tariff order become
effective from 1 December, and as per the
order, broadcasters would have to announce
the price for individual channels and report
that to Trai latest by 7 December .
Three
major broadcasters have filed a petition
against the order. Despite an appeal for
stay on the execution, the Tdsat (Telecom
Disputes Redressal and Settlement Tribunal)
has not granted it, saying that the Order
shall be executed on time.
The
Tdsat has also not allowed the prayer of
the petitioners that the Trai may not invoke
the penal provisions for non-compliance.
So the regulator is free to take action.
"We
shall take action if the broadcasters do
not comply with the Order," a Trai
official said, adding, however, that there
are still six days left for the broadcasters
to comply with the Order.
|
