I&B ministry considering amendments in cable TV act

New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is considering amendments in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, said an official Tuesday.

With a wide reach of close to 85 million homes in the country, the media distribution mode is one of the dominant platforms for piracy and other violations.

'We are considering some amendments to the Cable TV Act, 1995. There is no system as of now for a penalty for a cable operator (in case of any violation). The only extreme step we have is confiscation,' said Zohra Chatterji, joint secretary in the I&B ministry Tuesday. She was speaking at the fifth annual India Digital Networks Summit (IDNS 2009).

'In order to look into grey areas in cases of piracy etc or any other violation, we are trying to do something,' Chatterji added.

The amendments also aim at the rural sector so that the 'cable operations that are unviable in rural areas will become viable.'

Co-hosted by Indian Television Dot Com and Media Partners Asia Ltd, the event is endorsed by the ministry.

Asked about the status of Conditional Access System (CAS) penetration in the country, Chatterji said: 'We have lagged way behind the consumption of CAS because there is a lack of perception. It also depends upon the state of a country. For example, in the US, they have set their standards which are far beyond commendable.'

'So mandatory CAS in India will take some time. We are setting a sunset date for it,' she added.

According to Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), set-top boxes have been installed in barely 2.5 million homes in the country.