Concerned that they will not be able to comply with downlinking guidelines and cable laws, broadcasters and the cable industry have strongly opposed any move to govern Internet Protocol TV services through the Unified Access Service Licence agreement.
UASL, obtained by most telecom operators, permits them to undertake a variety of telecom services without needing a separate licence for each.
According to sources, officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Department of Telecommunications met recently to discuss IPTV's inclusion within the ambit of UASL, rather than its being governed by the Cable Act.
Excluding operations like broadcasting and direct to home services, the unified access licence allows telecom companies to offer mobile, landline, and Internet services.
If IPTV services are also allowed under the unified licence agreement, telcos will become de-facto cable operators as IPTV offers consumers digital quality television (voice, data and video) through telephone lines instead of the usual cable wires.
Cable operators say that putting IPTV services outside the ambit of cable laws will allow telcos access to any television channel in the world without requiring them to adhere to the downlinking guidelines and obtain other necessary clearances from the I&B ministry.
The cable industry wants IPTV services regulated through the Cable Television Act, by the Telecom and Regulatory Authority of India that governs the entire broadcast and cable industry.
"If telecom companies are looking to by-pass laws of the cable and broadcast industry, they will not be successful. We will strongly oppose any such move," a Mumbai-based multi-system operator said.
Currently, telecom companies like Bharti and Reliance Communications have the permission to provide IPTV services. IPTV has been commercially launched by state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd.
Once they are governed by the UASL agreement, IPTV services will come under the purview of the Department of Telecommunications rather than the I&B ministry, the nodal ministry for the broadcasting and cable industry.
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