Section 18 in Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017
18. Billing.
(1)Every distributor of television channels or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, shall offer broadcasting services related to television to subscribers either on pre-paid basis or post-paid basis or both pre-paid and post-paid basis.Explanation. - The pre-paid payment option offered shall be an electronic pre-paid mechanism wherein the amount paid by the subscriber is adjusted automatically for the services availed by him.(2)Every distributor of television channels or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, offering services both on pre-paid and post-paid basis, shall change payment mechanism from pre-paid to post-paid or vice-versa, as the case may be, on the request made by the subscriber, from the next billing cycle:Provided that the distributor shall not charge any amount from subscriber for such change in payment mechanism.(3)The charges for broadcasting services related to television shall be payable by a subscriber from the date of activation of such services.
