NEW DELHI: The path has been cleared for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to issue its tariff order for digital addressable systems with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry notifying the much awaited Cable Television Networks Rules, 2012.

Cable operators and multi-system operators (MSOs) will now have to ensure that they have the capacity to carry the minimum number of channels as specified by Trai, which is expected to issue its Tariff Order and other directives ‘shortly‘, a Ministry official told indiantelevision.com.

Trai has also received legal sanction for this, the official added.

Cable operators and MSOs will have to set up a grievance redressal mechanisms and subscribers can file complaints and get time-bound redressal if they are not satisfied with service quality.

The new Cable rules also redefine the procedures for MSOs who will have to submit a processing fee of Rs 100,000 for registration in an entity in place of Rs 10,000 as was the case until now. But there is no change in fee for registering as a local cable operator.

MSOs will now have to register with the Central Government while local cable operators (LCOs) can continue to be registered with Head Post office in the territorial jurisdiction where their offices exist.

The benefit of provisional registration has been provided to avoid delays in giving clearances to MSOs and LCOs.

The registering authority may grant provisional registration after preliminary scrutiny of such applications. The application procedure for cable operators has also been reworked.

The first phase of digitisation of the four metros has to be completed by 30 June. The other phases will be completed by December 2014.

Ministry officials denied that the delay in issuance of the Rules or Tariff order will create any problems for LCOs or MSOs in switching over.