Trai recommends online registration system for 'platform services' by DPOs

To create a regulatory framework for platform services offered by Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended that Information and Broadcast Ministry should establish a simple online registration system for such services.

In recommendations, released on Wednesday, the broadcasting sector regulator said that unlike private satellite TV channels, which are regulated under guidelines, neither the platform services nor channels distributed by ground-based broadcasters are presently subject to any specific regulations or guidelines.

Since there is no registration system in place for platform services offered by DPOs or the ground-based channels, neither the I&B ministry nor any other agency has full information about what is being shown on TV networks, Trai said.

Therefore, the regulator said, there is an urgent need to ensure that these programming services are brought within a "robust and fair" regulatory system.

Earlier, the I&B ministry had sought Trai recommendations on issues including those related to ground based channels being operated at the level of cable TV operators.

In its recommendations, the regulatory body defined 'Platform services', as those programs transmitted by DPOs like MSOs, local cable operators, DTH operators etc exclusively to their subscribers and does not include Doordarshan channels and registered TV channels. These services however shall not include foreign TV channels not registered in India, the Trai definition said.

The sector regulator recommended that all DPOs shall register their 'Platform Services' channels with the MIB on a simple online registration system, set up by it.

As far as carrying local news and current affairs bulletins on Platform Services is concerned, information about local events sourced locally, traffic, weather, cultural events and public announcements will be treated as non-news and current affairs broadcast and therefore, be permissible, Trai said.

In the recommendations, it also suggested that DPOs desirous of providing platform services must be incorporated as a company under the Indian Companies Act, 2013.

In a statement issued in the national capital, Trai said that in addition to the recommendations on platform services, it had suo motu made recommendations for a regulatory framework for ground based broadcasters as well.

This has been done to ensure that any TV channel that is distributed on any TV network in the country is covered by a regulatory framework, whether it is obtained from a satellite based broadcaster, produced by a network operator or sourced from a terrestrial broadcaster.

The recommendations for the ground-based broadcasters are largely the same as that for the satellite broadcasters, barring the requirements of seeking spectrum and approvals in that regard from Department of Telecom and Department of Space, Trai said in the statement.

Retransmission of FM radio channels on TV channel distribution networks has been recommended provided that all the legal rights to do so are obtained, Trai said.

However, the Authority has said that this matter will be revisited at a later point in time, once the FM radio industry fully develops in the country.