Expert panel recommends CAS for 55 cities starting from next year

New Delhi, June 13 (UNI) An expert group has recommended that the Conditional Access System (CAS) should be introduced in 55 cities and towns in phases between 2008 and 2010.

The Group on Digitisation and Introduction of Voluntary CAS in its report submitted to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) Chairman said that CAS should be mandatory in the year of introduction and made voluntary later when the system penetrates up to a certain level.

Explaining the ''voluntary'' concept, TRAI member Mr RN Chaubey said that a cable operators can go in for CAS in an area where the government has not made the system compulsory if they think that it would be good for their business.

The recommendations of the panel consisting of members from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), broadcaster, cable industry, consumer organisations and the government has been put on TRAI website for inviting comments.

CAS is already in place in the whole of Chennai and parts of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

The expert group has also opined that the dates for roll out of CAS for these identified cities should be notified in advance by the Government in one go and they should be brought under the system in phases over three years from October next year.

It said ''Voluntary efforts towards digitisation and introduction of CAS ahead of the mandated date for roll out of CAS should be facilitated by extending the existing regulatory framework.'' The group also said that the framework to facilitate voluntary efforts for introduction of CAS in cities other than the identified ones should also be provided.

CAS is an addressable system under which viewers subscribing to cable TV have to pay for viewing a channel. They also have the option not to pay for the channel they don't want to see.

The system which was already in place in Chennai for some years was introduced in parts of Delhi, Mumbai and Kokata last year.

If the subscriber wishes to view pay channels he has to use a'Set Top Box' (STB) through which the channels, which he wishes to view would reach him.

No STB is required if the subscriber wants to watch only the free to air (FTA) channels.

The Government introduced the system to bring transparency in the system, since accurate figures of subscriber base would be available and broadcasters would not take the under-reporting plea for hikes in rates of pay channels.

The issue of under declaration by the cable operators is also expected to vanish as periodic information has to be submitted by them to the Government regarding connectivity. That information shall be available to broadcasters also.

UNI