The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995
The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 has been enacted to regulate the operation of cable television networks in the country and for connected matters. The Act has defined ‘Cable television network’ as a system consisting of a set of closed transmission paths and associated signal generation, control and distribution equipment, designed to provide cable service for reception by multiple subscribers. The Act prohibits the operation of cable television network by any person unless he is registered as a cable operator. The Act enjoins that the Central government may, in the interest of the public, make it obligatory for every cable operator to transmit or retransmit programme of any pay channel through an addressable system with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification and different dates may be specified for different States, cities, towns or areas, as the case may be. Also the Central government may specify one or more free-to-air channels to be included in the package of channels forming basic service tier and any or more such channels for providing a programme mix of entertainment, information, education and such other programmes. The Act further provides that the cable television network should not interfere, in any way, with the functioning of the authorized telecommunication systems.
