NEW DELHI: Broadcast and telecom regulator today said that its order, ratified by the government, denotifying conditional access from the four metros would not be valid in Chennai as a court order has stayed the 
denotification there.
 

AIt has also removed any distinction between CAS and non-CAS areas saying that for such erstwhile notified mandatory CAS areas,where CAS was not actually implemented, the ceiling of 26 December, 2003, will
continue.

Trai had frozen cable services rates as of 26 December till further notice. Subsequently, its recommendation to denotify CAS in the four metros for three months was also upheld by the government.

In a clarification note issued today, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai)said, Except Chennai Metropolitan Area, where interim stay has been granted 
by Madras (Chennai) high court in writ petition numbers 4863, 4890, 4936 and 4919 of 2004,the Order shall cover tariffs for all Telecommunication (Broadcasting and 
Cable)Services throughout the territory of India as also those originating in India or outside India and terminating in India.

Trai has further stated that for those areas where CAS was implemented, like in Chennai, CAS may continue on a voluntary basis.

For erstwhile notified mandatory CAS areas where CAS was implemented, the Authority recognises that CAS may continue on a voluntary basis and in such a case the ceiling would again be the rates prevailing on 26 December, 2003,which the Authority recognises may have been lower than the rates in non-CASareas, the Trai note sates.

TRAI has added that the notification issued today is not applicable for Chennai Metropolitan Area on account of
stay granted by a local high court.