The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed all TV channels and distribution platforms (DPOs) to register with the designated portal details of interconnect agreements within 15 days.

A statement on Wednesday from the regulator said that as an order of the Kerala High Court has paved the way for part implementation of the interconnection agreement rules, under the  Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Register of Interconnection Agreements and all such other matters Regulations, 2019, stakeholders are being requested to comply.

“The Hon’ble High Court of Kerala has now disposed of the said writ petition (‘AIDCF & Anr. v. TRAI & Anr.’) vide its judgement dated 12.07.2021, and has partially set aside the provisions of the said regulations (relating to Telecommunication, Broadcasting and Cable, Services Register of Interconnection Agreements) to the extent they require registration of placement/marketing agreements.

“Thus, all the provisions of the said regulations, except to the extent they require registration of placement/marketing agreements, are in operation; and the service providers who have failed to comply with the same, are liable to be proceeded against, under the provisions of the said regulations,” TRAI said in a statement.

It further added that in view of the above, broadcasters and distributors of TV channels were requested to immediately implement the provisions of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Register of Interconnection Agreements and all such other matters Regulations, 2019, and “submit the compliance report within fifteen days from the date of issue of this letter”

For the purpose of filing data/details pertaining to the interconnect regulations, TRAI developed B&CS Integrated Portal System (BIPS), which went live on January 2, 2020.