MUMBAI: In a bid to push the digitisation agenda, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) today urged the Union Government to grant “Infrastructure Status” to the broadcasting industry, including direct to home (DTH) and cable sectors.

At a pre-Budget consultation meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, IBF stressed that the expected investment in STBs (set-top boxes) and optical fibre network alone would be to the tune of Rs 25,000 - 30,000 crore.

“In the present era of convergence, distinction between Telecom, IT and Broadcasting sectors is getting blurred. Telecom is already treated as an ‘infrastructure service.’ Broadcasters and distribution platforms will be aided with better and affordable financing options in the present capital-intensive growth phase if broadcasting sector is accorded infrastructure status. This will also provide a level playing field to the broadcasting sector with telecom and ISP industry,” IBF secretary general Girish Srivastava said at the high level meeting.

The Foundation also urged the Government to reduce customs duty on STBs to five per cent from the present 10 per cent. “The Finance Act, 2013 had increased customs duty on STBs to 10 per cent from earlier five per cent. In order to push digitisation, customs duty on STBs should be reduced to the earlier level of five per cent if not entirely removed,” Srivastava added.

On the direct tax front, IBF urged the Finance Ministry to allow carry forward of losses in case of amalgamation/merger. “Currently all industrial undertakings in manufacturing, software, electricity and telecom sectors are allowed carry forward of losses in case of merger/amalgamation. Media and Entertainment industry should be granted a similar status by amending Section 72(A)(7)(aa) of the Income Tax Act,” IBF said in its presentation.

Another proposal presented by IBF related to tax withholding on transponder charges. Finance Act, 2012 retrospectively included payment of transponder hire and other charges as royalty. However, these are not regarded as royalty under DTAA definition of royalty. IBF requested the Ministry of Finance that the definition of royalty under the Indian Income Tax Act and Treaty (DTAA) be aligned so that the credit of withholding tax is available to the foreign satellite service providers.