Broadcasting
Two’s Company : TDSAT’s Dual Spectrum Judgment
On 31st March, 2009 the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) pronounced judgment in the case of the Cellular Operators Association of India & Others v. Union of India and Others (Petition No. 286/2007). This case was popularly known as the dual spectrum allocation case and involved the allocation of spectrum to CDMA operators (principally Reliance Telecommunications) who opted to also offer cellular services under GSM technology. Though the decision is presently impugned before the Supreme Court, the decision provides a deep insight into the direction in which the TDSAT is steering telecommunications law for next 5-10 years.
Two Acts, One Trick
Within hours of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, news channels were making comparisons of the attacks to the terror strike on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The invented coinage, “India’s 9/11” gained quick currency and was applied to how the attacks had affected each one of us individually. The similarity is not [...]
The Folly of Convention
TRAI recently issued a consultation paper on Media Ownership where it was concerned with the increase in cross-ownership and reduction in media plurality. After some research I came across several FCC commissioned studies which concluded that there was a lack of evidence to link the two. The studies cannot be underestimated since they serve as [...]
Dispute over Interoperability of Set Top Boxes
A storm is brewing over the ineroperability of Set Top Boxes for DTH Services, with one DTH Service provider accusing an established DTH player for supplying incompatible boxes to its customers. Read more here
TRAI rejects ESPN’s pricing contention on DTH Platforms
Continuing with its trend of rejecting special pricing contentions of specialty television channels the TRAI rejected ESPN’s arguments for charging a bouquet price for the DTH Platform. Read more on the TRAI Website. Click Here.
Destroying Consent
The creeping nostalgia of “Chitrahaar“, will not change my opinion against the State participating in Broadcasting and Distribution Activities. The TRAI has recently mooted the idea of permitting State instrumentalities (the union government and its organs, State Governments and their organs, urban and local bodies, political bodies) in Broadcasting and Distribution Activities. Stakeholder’s comments received [...]
