Regulation News

EU updates audiovisual rules and presents approach to online platforms
May 25, 2016 – The European Commission has proposed an update of EU audiovisual rules. The proposal also reflects a new approach to online platforms, addressing challenges in different areas.
News categories: European Commission, Digital TV, EU, Regulation, Streaming

TRAI issues consultation paper on set-top box interoperability
Apr 4, 2016 – The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a pre-consultation paper on TV set-top box (STB) interoperability. STB interoperability would empower consumers to change their service provider without changing their STB.
News categories: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Cable TV, Digital TV, India, Regulation, Satellite, Set Top Box

TV packaging rules come into force in Canada
Mar 1, 2016 – Canadians can now subscribe to an affordable basic television package that costs no more than $25 per month. They will also have the option of supplementing this package with additional channels, either individually or in bundles of up to 10 channels.
News categories: CRTC, Jean Pierre Blais, Cable TV, Canada, Digital TV, IPTV, Regulation, Satellite

India reduces set-top box import and excise duty rates
Mar 1, 2016 – India's Finance Minister, in his annual Union Budget, has announced changes to the rates of taxation for set-top boxes and their components. The government has reduced both import duties and excise duty.
News categories: Cable TV, Digital TV, India, Regulation, Satellite, Set Top Box

FCC approves proposal to unlock the set-top box
Feb 18, 2016 – The Federal Communications Commission has approved a proposal that would pave the way for software, devices, and other solutions to compete with the set-top boxes that a majority of U.S. consumers lease from pay-TV providers today.
News categories: Federal Communications Commission, Cable TV, Digital TV, IPTV, Regulation, Satellite, Set Top Box, USA

EU proposes to move 700MHz UHF band to mobile services
Feb 2, 2016 – The European Commission has presented a proposal to make more spectrum available for mobile services in the 700 MHz band (694-790 MHz) by 2020. Currently, this band is mainly used for TV broadcasting.
News categories: European Commission, Andrus Ansip, Günther H. Oettinger, Content Distribution, Digital TV, EU, Regulation, Terrestrial

FCC proposes to unlock the set-top box
Jan 27, 2016 – The FCC has announced that it is circulating for a vote a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would tear down anti-competitive barriers and pave the way for software, devices and other innovative solutions to compete with the set-top boxes that a majority of consumers must lease today.
News categories: FCC, Cable TV, Digital TV, IPTV, Regulation, Satellite, Set Top Box, USA

Dual-illumination to begin in South Africa on February 1, 2016
Dec 11, 2015 – In a statement on decisions made at its Cabinet meeting of December 9th, South Africa's government announced that it has approved the commencement of a dual-illumination period for digital broadcasting, beginning on February 1st, 2016.
News categories: Digital TV, Regulation, South Africa, Terrestrial

EU proposes cross-border portability for OTT content
Dec 9, 2015 – The European Commission has presented a proposal to allow Europeans to travel with their online content and an action plan to modernise EU copyright rules. Cross-border portability is expected to be a reality in 2017.
News categories: European Commission, Digital TV, EU, Regulation, Streaming