New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) DTH service providers too will now have to file with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI), interconnect agreements entered into with the broadcaster.

For this purpose, TRAI has decided to amend the Register of Interconnect Agreement Regulation (15 of 2004). The step is being taken to facilitate better monitoring and to provide for specific informational requirements relevant to DTH platform.

This would be besides the existing obligation placed on the broadcasters, in terms of the regulation referred to above, to file their interconnect agreements entered with a DTH operator.

The Authority would separately be specifying the procedure to be adopted by the Direct to Home Operator for the filing of dues after amended regulations are notified.

TRAI had on December 31, 2004 issued regulations for filing and registration of interconnect agreements entered into by broadcasters with service providers under different platforms. In line with its detailed recommendations on issues relating to broadcasting and distribution of TV channels it was stated in para 5 of the explanatory memorandum to the above regulation that the agreements entered into by between MSO and LCO shall be registered with the Authorized Officers under the Cable Act.

Subsequently on December 2, 2005, these regulations were amended to facilitate to provide flexibility in adopting procedures and formats of filing etc of the interconnect agreements.

Now, it has been considered necessary to make the DTH operators also file the interconnect agreements from the point of view of better monitoring, TRAI said here.

UNI NAZ SB KN1719