NBTC may consider issuing certificates for extra services
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The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission might implement new regulations to govern additional services in radio and TV broadcasting through special certification rather than the regular licensing regime.
The term “additional services” refers to providers of home shopping, short-message service and TV audience measurement. The NBTC calls these application-service providers.
Initially, the NBTC’s broadcasting committee expected to govern all such providers through the licensing system, just like the providers of broadcasting facilities, network providers and TV channel operators.
Under the licence-based regime, each operator will pay 2 per cent of gross income for the annual licence fee with an additional 2 per cent for the NBTC’s research and development fund.
However, Pasu Srihirun, acting executive director of the NBTC’s broadcasting resourcing and research bureau, said the broadcasting committee wanted to offer more flexibility to providers of application services by awarding them a unique certification.
Pasu explained that under the certification system, an eligible application-service provider might be charged either the cost of the certification process or a yearly fixed fee.
“The first draft of this rule was approved by the broadcasting panel on October 28. The panel will decide whether to use a certification or licence system to govern the application-service providers after completing a public hearing, which will be held on January 9,” he said.
In the draft rule, application-service providers are categorised into three types. Type 1 is an informative service for commercial purposes such as home shopping, SMS and a voting system.
Type 2 is an integrated media service in TV and radio broadcasting, including video-on-demand and interactive services.
Type 3 is TV audience measurement, or ratings.
After the public hearing, this rule is expected to come into effect by mid-2014 and govern all application-service business in broadcasting, ranging from radio and digital terrestrial TV to cable and satellite TV.
