GUWAHATI, Aug 21 � Considering the tough times being faced by the cable TV operators of the State due to the arrival of big players in the field of DTH, the Greater Guwahati Cable TV Operators Association (GGCTOA) has appealed the State Government to exempt the cable operators from the Assam Amusement and Betting Tax (AABT).
The tax which costs the cable operators Rs 10 per subscriber per moth was levied from February, 2000.
�The content of cable is priced much lower than the DTH and its services are enjoyed by a large number of people at an affordable cost even in the rural areas among the lower and middle income groups. But the State government has done nothing to safeguard the interest of this industry,� said Iquebal Ahmed, general secretary of the association, addressing a press meet today.
�The cable operators are harassed for AABT but, on the other hand the DTH, which is also under the ambit of AABT are not paying the tax properly. The local cable operators are easily available to the police, but the DTH operators are big multinationals, who can also influence the policy makers and enforcers,� he alleged.
The association also said that this evasion of taxes by DTH is causing huge losses to the State exchequer and is also discriminatory to the cable operators.
According to the Association, though the cable operators have been brought under the ambit of the AABT, the cable fee collected by the operators is not even sufficient to pay the broadcasters, since the channels are costing more than Rs 600 per head per month.
On the other hand, the association members also complained that the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, defined as nodal officers in the Cable TV Act are only empowered to take action against the cable operators, but no one has been empowered to look into the grievances of the cable TV operators.
�With the cable TV also starting digital transmission to compete with the DTH, the picture quality has improved, consumers are now availing digital picture quality at a much affordable cost in Guwahati. If we get the support from State government in this regard, we would be able to cover the entire State under this service, within a short period,� said Sanjeev Narayan, advisor of the association.
The GGCTOA also demanded the State government to take steps against individuals involved in cable TV business without obtaining proper permission and license from the authorities concerned.
GUWAHATI, Aug 21 � Considering the tough times being faced by the cable TV operators of the State due to the arrival of big players in the field of DTH, the Greater Guwahati Cable TV Operators Association (GGCTOA) has appealed the State Government to exempt the cable operators from the Assam Amusement and Betting Tax (AABT).
The tax which costs the cable operators Rs 10 per subscriber per moth was levied from February, 2000.
�The content of cable is priced much lower than the DTH and its services are enjoyed by a large number of people at an affordable cost even in the rural areas among the lower and middle income groups. But the State government has done nothing to safeguard the interest of this industry,� said Iquebal Ahmed, general secretary of the association, addressing a press meet today.
�The cable operators are harassed for AABT but, on the other hand the DTH, which is also under the ambit of AABT are not paying the tax properly. The local cable operators are easily available to the police, but the DTH operators are big multinationals, who can also influence the policy makers and enforcers,� he alleged.
The association also said that this evasion of taxes by DTH is causing huge losses to the State exchequer and is also discriminatory to the cable operators.
According to the Association, though the cable operators have been brought under the ambit of the AABT, the cable fee collected by the operators is not even sufficient to pay the broadcasters, since the channels are costing more than Rs 600 per head per month.
On the other hand, the association members also complained that the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, defined as nodal officers in the Cable TV Act are only empowered to take action against the cable operators, but no one has been empowered to look into the grievances of the cable TV operators.
�With the cable TV also starting digital transmission to compete with the DTH, the picture quality has improved, consumers are now availing digital picture quality at a much affordable cost in Guwahati. If we get the support from State government in this regard, we would be able to cover the entire State under this service, within a short period,� said Sanjeev Narayan, advisor of the association.
The GGCTOA also demanded the State government to take steps against individuals involved in cable TV business without obtaining proper permission and license from the authorities concerned.
