TRAI holds open house discussion on tariff issues

Broadcasting sector regulator TRAI today held an open house discussion on tariff issues related to commercial subscribers' where representatives of the broadcasters, hotel industry and distribution platform operators put forth their views.
Officials said that TRAI held the consultations to ascertain that whether there should be classification amongst subscribers, and if differential tariffs amongst various subscriber categories should be applied.
"While broadcasters were for imposition of differential tariffs, there were other representatives like those from the hotel industry and some of the distribution platform operators who were opposed or had reservations," a senior official.
Representatives of the Indian Broadcasting Federation (IBF), DTH Association, MSO Alliances, All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI), and individual broadcasters were present at the open house.

The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) also issued a statement after the deliberations in which its President Uday Shankar said that it is inconceivable that any sector regulator would actually equate five star hotels and commercial establishments with domestic consumers as far as tariffs are concerned.
"I am not sure what exactly the regulator is trying to achieve with the present dispensation, i.E. Five star hotels availing TV content at subsidised rates especially when they charge a leg and arm for a room, a meal or even a bottle of water? It appears to be a case of misguided regulatory zeal. I hope better sense prevails and the regulator does what is in the interest of its primary stakeholders, i.E. Broadcasters and distribution platforms and not five star and four star hotels," he added.

Officials said that some of the other representatives presented different viewpoints with those from the hotel industry not being in favour of different and higher tariffs.
TRAI is undergoing this exercise following an order by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), officials said.