New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has granted a much-needed extension to stakeholders seeking to provide feedback on its proposed regulatory framework for ground-based broadcasters.
Initially, the deadline for submitting comments was set for November 15, 2024. However, in response to requests from industry players, TRAI has extended this deadline to November 22, 2024. The deadline for counter-comments has also been pushed back to December 6, 2024.
The regulatory authority emphasized that this will be the final extension and no further requests for additional time will be considered.
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TRAI’s consultation paper, released on October 18, 2024, aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for ground-based television distribution. This move is driven by the increasing technological advancements that now enable ground-based distribution of television channels, offering an alternative to the traditional satellite-based approach.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had previously requested TRAI to re-evaluate the existing regulatory framework, which was established in 2014. The MIB recognized that significant changes have occurred within the industry, necessitating a review of the existing regulations.
By extending the deadline, TRAI aims to provide stakeholders with ample time to carefully analyze the proposed framework and submit their valuable insights. This will enable the regulator to formulate a robust and future-proof regulatory environment for the ground-based broadcasting sector.
