The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the new broadcasting regulator, is likely to defer the implementation of conditional access system in South Delhi.
It is also likely to formulate detailed guidelines for all its stakeholders only after the Lok Sabha polls.
With the Centre facing flak from all stakeholders - broadcasters, cable operators, multi-service operators and consumers - on CAS since it was rolled out in South Delhi on December 15 last, it appears to have decided to defer implementation of this system for the time being.
While official sources confirmed that TRAI was likely to make the announcement deferring CAS for some months, they did not elaborate on the modalities of this deferment.
Despite several attempts, TRAI Chairman Pradip Baijal could not be reached for comments.
CAS had been unleashed in South Delhi last month after the Delhi high court quashed Centre's notification deferring its implementation, saying such deferment was an arbitrary exercise of power.
Asked how can TRAI then defer CAS after the high court ruling terming deferment as unconstitutional, sources said that TRAI was not governed by the CAS legislation and was well within its rights to order a deferment giving valid reasons.
"When TRAI was chosen as the broadcasting regulator, it was asked to formulate a short-term and a long-term strategy for this vast sector. The regulatory body is likely to stay CAS rollout at least till the general elections are over. It may then lay down detailed guidelines for this system to become operational again," official sources said.
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