MUMBAI: A special briefing session on the existing CAS (conditional access system) scenario was conducted for the benefit of Mumbai-based cable operators and last mile operators (LMOs) at a suburban hotel in Mumbai today.

Several cable operators in Mumbai seem to be groping for information about the current status of CAS implementation and this was evident when several LMOs assembled at Doordarshan Mumbai offices on 5 August when I&B additional secretary Vijay Singh visited the city to conduct the first meeting of the CAS implementation panel.

The Eastern Cable TV Operator's and Welfare Association invited CAS implementation panel member Roop Sharma (of Cable Operators' Federation of India) to address a gathering of 500 LMOs. Trade union leader and Congress representative (MPCC member) Bhai Jagtap also attended the meeting that was held at the Maharana Hotel in Chembur (in suburban Mumbai) today afternoon.

Eastern Cable TV Operators and Welfare Association president Ravi Kalastri says: "The assembled LMOs represented a fair mix of cable operators that are being serviced by all the three major MSOs in Mumbai (Hathway, Siticable and InCablenet). All the assembled members complained that the MSOs hadn't made an attempt to brief them about the current situation. We have a right to know everything about the developments on the CAS front as we will be the ones who will ensure its success!"

Roop Sharma spoke about the various issues such as

* Implementation of CAS from September onwards
* Commissions and incentives to be offered to LMOs
* Infrastructure and technology related issues
* The efforts being made by the cable operators representatives to increase the monthly cable rates of Rs 72 for free to air channels

The assembled LMOs were of the view that the monthly charges of the FTA channels should be increased to Rs 150 (minus taxes).

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