December 31 deadline fixed for cable operators

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 17, 2015: Cable operators and subscribers in urban areas of Dakshina Kannada have been given December 31 as deadline for installing set-top boxes for television sets, according to Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim.

In the event of their failure to comply, the district administration would initiate steps to stop the services and take legal action against operators, he said.

Mr. Ibrahim said in a release issued here that consumers chould contact their cable service operators and get the set-top boxes installed. At the same time, cable operators should inform the subscribers about its importance and ensure that the set- top boxes are installed.

Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, who is the nodal officer for digitisation of cable TV network project in Dakshina Kannada, said that the objective was to prevent operators from evading entertainment tax. Operators would have to pay tax per on each connection given to television sets.

For example, many of them provide services to more than one television set in some houses and apartments from a single connection and pay the tax for a single connection, which is wrong.

When the set-top box is installed, it could be monitored through on-line system, thus making it difficult for the operators to avoid payment of tax for actual connections given.

Mr. Ibrahim said that the Union government had made digitising cable TV services compulsory. Dakshina Kannada had been included in the phase III of the digitisation project.

 

Courtesy: The Hindu