TRAI releases Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2022

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2022.

2. DRM is a systematic approach to copyright protection for digital media. The purpose of DRM is to prevent unauthorized redistribution of digital media and restrict the ways consumers can copy content they’ve purchased. DRM products were developed in response to the rapid increase in online piracy of commercially marketed material, which proliferated through the widespread use of peer-to­peer file exchange programs. Typically, DRM is implemented by embedding code that prevents copying, specifies a time period in which the content can be accessed or limits the number of devices the media can be installed on.
3. TRAI notified the Telecommunication (Broadcasting 8[, cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable System) Regulation, 2017 on 03.03.2017 ([hereinafter referred to as Interconnection Regulations]. Its Amendment (1st amendment) had been notified by the Authority on 30.10.2019.
4. During the consultation undertaken to prepare the Audit Manual certain comments and observations reflect some issues in the Schedule III of the Interconnection Regulations.
5. Accordingly, Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019 was issued on 27 August 2019 which included issues related to Digital Rights Management Systems.
6. The Schedule III of the Interconnection Regulations does not provide for the requirements / specifications of DRM based systems. The Authority, during its consultations on Audit manual, received the feedback that owing to its benefits the IPTV based DPOs are switching to DRM technology. It is necessary that the Audit regime covers the DRM based networks and provides for enabling provisions for such operators. Accordingly, Draft Regulations dated 27.8.2019 mentioned above, included DRM specifications in Schedule III.
7. During the consultation process, the Authority received numerous comments and suggestions from various stakeholders on this issue. Numerous modification/additions were proposed by several stakeholders. Hence, the Authority was of the opinion that system requirements for DRM shall be dealt with in a separate consultation paper.
8. The Authority was of the view that on the issue related to “System Requirements for Digital Right Management System”, extensive deliberations with industry stakeholders is required. Accordingly, the Authority constituted a committee comprising of industry stakeholders to prepare and submit draft `System Requirement for Digital Right Management (DRM)’ to the Authority.
9. After extensive deliberations, the committee submitted a report on “System requirement for Digital Right Management (DRM)” to be included in Schedule III of the Interconnection Regulation to the Authority. The Authority conveys its appreciation for the extensive work done by the committee.
10. Accordingly, TRAI has issued this Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2022.
11. Full text of the Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2022 is available on the TRAI’s website trai.gov.in.

BCS Bureau