Broadcasters Oppose TRAI’s Piecemeal Regulatory Overhaul, Claim Flawed Move Undermines Audit Authority

The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) and the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) have jointly opposed the latest proposed amendments to broadcasting service regulations by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), calling for the immediate withdrawal of the Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2025.
Key Concerns and Flaws
Industry stakeholders argue that TRAI’s “piecemeal approach”—separating revisions on audit practices, the audit manual, and infrastructure sharing—has created serious regulatory ambiguity and conceptual inconsistencies.
Undermining Audit Authority: A core concern is the proposed change to Regulation 15(2), which broadcasters believe undermines their authority to audit Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs), thereby weakening transparency and oversight.
Jurisdictional Overreach: The NBDA specifically contends that the inclusion of broadcasting services within the broader telecom authorization regime, as proposed in TRAI’s consultation paper of October 30, 2025 (under the Telecommunications Act, 2023), is “conceptually inaccurate and unfounded,” arguing that broadcasting is a distinct sector.
Violation of Commitment: The IBDF criticized the timing, asserting that the new amendments violate a commitment TRAI made in February 2025 to delay such reforms until a comprehensive regulatory ecosystem review was complete.
Both associations have urged TRAI to abandon its fragmented regulatory overhaul and adopt a holistic, consultative process to ensure clarity and industry alignment.