IBDF, NBDA ask TRAI to withdraw draft broadcasting amendment

The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) and the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) have urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to withdraw the Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2025, citing procedural lapses and jurisdictional overreach.

Both industry bodies have described the draft as “regressive, procedurally improper, and jurisdictionally flawed”. They have contended that TRAI’s decision to introduce the proposed changes in a fragmented manner — separating issues related to audit regulations, the audit manual, and infrastructure sharing — creates unnecessary regulatory confusion.

Read e4m report on NBDA, IBDF's earlier comments

In its submission, IBDF has said the fragmented approach “creates significant regulatory uncertainty and prevents a meaningful assessment of the proposed changes and their practical implications.” The foundation added that TRAI’s move runs contrary to its own commitment during a February 2025 meeting to defer such amendments until a comprehensive review of the regulatory framework was completed.

A major point of contention is the proposed amendment to Regulation 15(2), which the broadcasters argue dilutes their right to audit distribution platform operators (DPOs).

TRAI issued its consultation paper on October 30 on the Framework for Service Authorisations for the Provision of Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, inviting stakeholder feedback.

NBDA has argued that including broadcasting services within the telecommunication authorization regime is conceptually flawed, stating that the consultation paper assumes broadcasting is “inherently integrated within the scope of telecommunication services,” which it said was “incorrect and unfounded.”