The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued an ultimatum to those MSOs who are non-compliant as per cable TV networks regulations to submit their responses within 15 days or face action.

In a communications to MSOs, dated September 4, the MIB said, “This notice is issued to grant you the opportunity to be heard in accordance with the proviso to Section 4(7) of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. You are kindly requested to submit your response within 15 days from the date of this letter, outlining the reasons for your non-compliance with the terms and conditions of MSO registration.”

This Ministry is specially peeved as it has identified that some MSOs, already having interconnection agreements with the broadcasters, have failed to comply with the Regulation 15 of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017 with some of them identified as defaulters for calendar year 2021 and 2022.

Regulations mandate that all distribution platforms, including MSOs, will have to furnish certain details to the government and the regulator TRAI (like subscriber numbers) from time to time by uploading the data on a designated website.

The September 4 MIB note goes on to observe, “Your (MSO) compliance status in this regard, for calendar year 2021 and 2022, are mentioned against your name in the schedule attached to this notice.

“In exercise of powers conferred under Rule 10/(1) of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, this Ministry had directed all MSOs to furnish information like number of subscribers, etc. Many MSOs have failed to furnish the requested information.”

 Failure to provide a satisfactory response within the stipulated time frame may lead to the cancellation or suspension of the registration granted to MSOs without further notice.

Last week, the MIB posted on its website the lists of MSOs whose registrations have been either cancelled or suspended, while detailing the reasons for the same.

Meanwhile, as reported by the Indianbroadcastingworld.com last month, the government had cancelled the registrations of 255 MSOs for failing to get their networks audited as per regulatory mandate, apart from failing to respond to official notices. (https://www.indianbroadcastingworld.com/mib-penalises-255-msos/)

In an order dated August 24, the MIB stated: “It has been observed that the scheduled MSOs have failed to provide the requisite clarification/explanation within the stipulated period.

“In view of the above and in exercise of powers conferred under Section 4(7) of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, the MSO registrations of the scheduled MSOs are hereby cancelled with immediate effect.”