(1) No multi-system operator shall provide cable television network services with addressable systems in any one or more notified areas without a valid permission from the Central Government under sub-rule (3) of rule
11.
(2) Every multi-system operator who desires to provide cable television network services with addressable systems in any of the notified areas, shall, within thirty days of the issue of the notifications under section 4 A of the Act by the Central Government, apply for permission to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Form 6 annexed to these rules, along with processing fee of rupees ten thousand.
(3) The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the Government of India shall, within thirty days of the receipt of the application, grant, or refuse, permission to the applicant to provide addressable systems in the notified areas after considering its suitability or otherwise on the basis of information given in respect of its existing operational area, actual number of subscribers and addresses of its local cable operators in each of the notified areas, commercial arrangements with the broadcasters and local cable operators, if any, financial strength, management capability, security clearance and preparedness to supply and maintain adequate number of set top boxes for its subscribers, installation of its subscriber management system and compliance with all other quality of service standards as may be specified by the Authority.
(4) The Central Government may lay down such terms and conditions of permission under sub-rule (3) as may be deemed necessary and desirable to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations, directions and orders made by the Authority.
(5) No multi- system operator shall continue to provide any cable television network services in the notified areas after the date notified therein, without obtaining prior permission from the Central Government.
(6) In the event of a multi-system operator who fails or refuses to enter into an interconnection agreement with a broadcaster of a pay channel or an adequate number of local cable operators in the notified areas or who violate the terms and conditions of the permission granted to it under sub-rule (3), within the time limit as prescribed by the Authority, the Authority may. so as to protect the interests of the subscribers, take interim measures to ensure supply of signals.
(7) In the event of violation by a multi-system operator of one or more of the terms and conditions of the permission granted under sub-rule (3), the Central Government may 12 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA. EXTRAORDINARY____________ [P a r t II— S e c . 3 (i)] suspend or revoke such permission for such period and for such notified areas as it deems fit:
Provided that no such order of suspension or revocation shall be made without giving a reasonable opportunity to the multi-system operator to explain its position