New Delhi, February 27
The government today issued a notification keeping the implementation of the Conditional Access System (CAS) in abeyance indefinitely, accepting broadcast regulator TRAI’s recommendations in the matter.
“We have decided to accept the TRAI’s recommendation and suspend implementation of CAS indefinitely,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.
As per the notification, the earlier notifications of January 14 and July 10 on CAS stand suspended.
The TRAI said that state governments whose officers were entrusted with the task of implementing CAS had opposed its introduction in the present form.
“The present system of CAS needs immediate reconsideration as offences are being committed by cable operators in showing pay channels without set-top boxes and with state governments, having requested for reconsideration, state authorities are not fully implementing the provisions of the Act,” the TRAI observed
The government said in today’s notification that the implementation of CAS should be in a manner “that is in the larger interest of the public and safeguards the interest of consumers, which unfortunately in the present situation is not possible unless the issues raised (by TRAI) are addressed”.
