I&B Ministry
DAS phases face problems; Parliamentary Committee asks Govt. to make amends
NEW DELHI: Even as there are consistent delays on the Home Ministry’s part to examine security clearances for multi system operators (MSOs) and complaints of non-availability of reliable set top boxes (STBs), a Parliamentary Standing Committee has said suitable steps should be taken proactively to address the concerns of all the stakeholders in achieving the final phases of digitization within the envisaged time frame.
The Committee in its recent report said that about 50 per cent of the further demand of 110 million STBs required under the final phases of digitization is likely to be met by the domestic manufacturers, which is certainly an encouraging proposition.
Noting that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had found interoperability of STBs expensive and recommended financial interoperability, the Committee wanted to know the progress in getting inexpensive STBs as it had been informed that indigenous STBs would be made available in sufficient number.
Regulations notified by TRAI provide an exit option for a subscriber to change the operator/platform for any reason. The Committee said it had also been informed that the Department of Information Technology had issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of an indigenous Conditional Access System (CAS) to make interoperability of STBs possible and an Indian CAS is expected to be ready in about a year’s time.
The Committee noted the process of digitisation under Phase I and Phase II was not smooth as there was strong opposition from cable operators’ associations, non-acceptance of revenue sharing arrangements between cable operators and MSOs, and between MSOs and broadcasters, delay in filling of Consumer Application Forms, monopoly of few selected STBs manufacturers and service providers and opposition from some State Governments.
It had been informed that the Task Force for the final two phases will provide policy direction and take stock of the progress on a regular basis in order to implement the final phases in a professional manner.
The Committee noted that out of the four metro cities planned to be digital, digitization has been near total in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Chennai is yet to undergo the digital transition due to several pending court cases. Phase II of digitization was concluded by 31 March, 2013 in 38 cities spanning 14 states and one union territory. The Phase III and IV digitization process is now planned to be completed by December 2015 and December 2016 respectively.
The Committee noted that during Phase I and Phase II of the Cable TV digitization, the indigenous manufacturers were able to supply only 15 per cent of the total requirement of STBs and the rest were imported from various countries, mainly from China. As a result, complaints were received about the poor quality of STBs, their non-compliance to BIS standards, and absence of service/repair centres for STBs.
In this regard, to meet the growing demand of STBs in the country, the Ministry has reportedly taken a number of steps to promote the indigenous manufacturing of STBs, which include increasing import duty on imported STBs from five to 10 per cent, declaring STBs as a part of ‘Telecommunications Networks’ by the Department of Telecommunications on 30 June, 2014 and confirmation by the Department of Revenue on 13 August, 2014 by extension of the same under Sec 8(3) (b) of the Central Sales Tax, 1956 thus fulfilling the major demand of the indigenous STBs manufacturers for the creation of a level playing field vis-?-vis importers.
Moreover, the Department of Electronics and Information Technology had made it mandatory for the STBs to be BIS compliant for safety certification with effect from January 2014. The Information Technology Department had also entered into a contract with a domestic company to develop CAS domestically vide its order dated 24 July, 2014, which would be made available to the domestic vendors at $ 0.5 as against the current value of $2 or more.
The Committee also noted that in order to give time to the domestic manufacturers of STBs, the Government had extended the cut-off dates of digitisation, which for Phase III has been extended from 30 September, 2014 to 31 December, 2015 and for Phase IV from 31 December, 2014 to 31 December, 2016.
I&B Ministry
MeitY extends deadline for feedback on digital media rules overhaul
Government gives stakeholders more time to respond to proposed changes in intermediary guidelines.
MUMBAI: When the rulebook gets a rewrite, even the internet needs a little extra time to read the fine print. Regulators have extended the deadline for public feedback on a proposed overhaul of India’s digital media and intermediary liability framework, giving stakeholders until April 29 to submit their views. In a notice issued on April 10, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said it was extending the consultation period for draft amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, following representations from several stakeholders.
At the heart of the proposals is a significant shift in how social media platforms and other intermediaries must respond to government communications. A new provision would make compliance with official “clarifications, advisories, directions, standard operating procedures and guidelines” a formal part of the due diligence obligations required to retain safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.
The amendments would also expand the scope of content oversight under Part III of the rules. The digital media ethics code would now apply not only to publishers but also to intermediaries hosting or transmitting user-uploaded news and current affairs content. This could bring user-generated news more directly under regulatory scrutiny.
Additionally, the Inter-Departmental Committee’s powers would be broadened, allowing it to take up matters referred directly by the ministry rather than waiting for formal complaints. This signals a more proactive approach to content monitoring.
The existing IT Rules already impose strict requirements on intermediaries, including timely removal of unlawful content, grievance redressal mechanisms, and traceability in certain cases. Recent updates have also introduced obligations around labelling synthetically generated content.
Officials have described the amendments as necessary to create an “Open, Safe, Trusted and Accountable Internet” while improving legal clarity and enforceability.
With the extended deadline now set for April 29, the government has given industry bodies, civil society, and digital platforms additional time to respond to changes that could significantly reshape how online platforms operate and are governed in India.
In the fast-scrolling world of digital regulation, a little extra time to read the small print might just prevent bigger headaches down the line.
