Even as the officials of state run Arasu Cable TV (ACTL) officials are keen on offering quality services at the low-price of Rs70 per month, a few cable operators flout the norm and continue to charge Rs100. Officials have issued a stern warning to erring operators saying their licences would be revoked.
Despite serious restrictive measures being taken by the officials of ACTL, a few cable operators are not adhering in collecting the monthly charges fixed by the government, complains Mr Selvaraj a government official from Villupuram.
“The cable operators invariably collect Rs100 or more from the subscribers and even warn that they would cut the connection if they insist on paying the charge fixed by the government.”
Not only in Villupuram but also in several other districts, operators collect excess charges from the public. But a cable operator from Villupuram points out that they have to resort to such activities as the public demand that a few channels be aired that are not listed in the ACTL’s list.
“We have to buy a private operator’s dish for airing those channels and though it’s illegal we do so to satisfy our customers, who in turn do not mind paying a few more bucks,” he opines.
However, ACTL officials, who claim that the corporation has reached the 60-lakh connections mark and offering quality signals as well through optical fibre cables, denied it and warned that severe action, including licence cancellation, would be taken against those operators.