- Introduction and title (1)
- Object (2)
- Providing Services (3)
- Service Name and Logo (4)
- Accountability (5)
- Sources of the Service provided (6)
- Areas where the Services can be provided (7)
- Number of Licenses issued per region (8)
- Licensees (9)
- Application for License (10)
- Conditions, the Licensees must satisfy (11)
- Permit to Continue working (12)
- Issuance of the License (13)
- Renewal of License (14)
- Test Signal (15)
- Commencement of Service (16)
- Channel Agreement (17)
- Sub-licensing (18)
- Channel License (19)
- Airing free to air channels (20)
- Local Channels (21)
- Content (22)
- Classification and Categorization (23)
- Prohibited Content (24)
- Prayer Times (25)
- Displaying the Logo (26)
- Monitoring (27)
- Controlling channels (28)
- Introducing new channels (29)
- Basic Channels (30)
- Public Media (31)
- Channel Package (32)
- Altering Packages (33)
- Determining the fees of the Service (34)
- Controlling the fees for the Services (35)
- Quality of Service (36)
- Administrative fee (37)
- Annual fee (38)
- Payment of Annual fee (39)
- Record keeping (40)
- Awarding Points (41)
- Deducting points (42)
- Duration and Price of Confiscation of license (43)
- Cancellation of License (44)
- Providing Service without license (45)
- Consolidating two license holders (46)
- Temporary disconnection of services (47)
- Termination of Services by service providers (48)
- Termination of services by the Ministry (49)
- Changing License (50)
- Procedure in State of Emergency (51)
- Listed Events (52)
- Amendments (53)
- Implementation (54)
- Current Service Providers (55)
- Annual Report (56)
- Interpretation (57)
Cable Television Service Regulation 2007
(Unofficial Translation)
Ministry of Legal Reform, Information and Arts
Republic of Maldives
Introduction and title (1)
a) This Regulation provides for the formation and the implementation of Maldives Cable Television Services; and for the industrious delivery of the services to subscribers in a competitive and a fair environment, and for all that is to be done for the development of such
Services.
b) This Regulation may be cited as the “Cable Television Services Regulation”. This regulation is made under section 7 (b) of the Act No. 1/96 (Consumer Protection Act)
Object (2)
a) The object of this Regulation is to establish and develop a Cable Television Services policy in the Maldives for that purpose to:
1. Enhance the opportunity for education, entertainment and to disseminate news and
information to the public through modern technology;
2. Create a competitive environment in providing the Cable Television Services to the subscribers for a reasonable price; maintaining policies to curb the opportunity for monopoly;
3. Establish a system to resolve complaints lodged while the Cable Television Services is being provided or with regard to the manner in which the Service is being provided.
4. Take proper action against those who break the law and regulation while providing cable television services.
5. Provide for policies to receive contents of Cable Television Services in a fair manner by all
subscribers and to curb exclusivity in the industry.
Providing Services (3)
a) Cable Television Services shall be provided in the Maldives in accordance with the policies set out in this regulation, after acquiring “Cable Television License” issued by the Ministry.
b) Except for individual purposes, the sources for a Cable Television Service or such a system shall not be utilized to provide services to a group of people unless in accordance with this regulation.
c) Application to provide Cable Television Services shall be submitted via “application form for Cable Television License” stipulated in Annex 1 along with other documents mentioned in this regulation.
d) Application for a Cable Television License shall be void where, allotments stipulated in Column 4 of Table 1 is filled for the applied area, or if a document stipulated in this regulation is not submitted, or if a condition stipulated in section 11 is not satisfied.
e) The Ministry shall inform the reasons for canceling an application, to the applicant, within at least 7 (Seven) days of when the application becomes void or of canceling such application.
Service Name and Logo (4)
a) An applicant for Cable Television License shall register their commercial name and logo in the relevant Government Authority and submit a copy of such registration to the Ministry along with the “application form for Cable Television License” stipulated in Annex 1 of this regulation.
b) A Cable Television Licensee must have a Logo, and a color depiction and a soft copy of such label, must be submitted to the Ministry along with the “Application form for Cable Television License” stipulated in Annex 1 of this regulation.
Accountability (5)
a) Every Cable Television Licensee and every applicant for such license must appoint in writing a Maldivian citizen of 18 years and above to be accountable for the Service provided, and complete and submit to the Ministry, the “Information of the Person Accountable” stipulated in Annex 2 of this regulation, along with the “Application form for Cable Television License” stipulated in Annex 1 of this regulation.
b) When completing the “Information of the Person Accountable” stipulated in Annex 2 of this regulation, it must include the signature and the fingerprint of the appointed person to be accountable along with the seal of the company and a signature on behalf of the company
showing that person's appointment. A copy of the National Identity Card of the person appointed to be accountable and an appointment letter must also be submitted along with the form.
c) If for any reason, the person appointed to be accountable shall change, the Cable television Licensee and the person who take over the responsibilities of the person appointed to be accountable, shall complete those mentioned in sub section (1) of this section, and
within 15 days from the date of change in person, complete the form on “Information of the person Accountable” in Appendix B, and submit it to the Ministry.
d) The person appointed to be accountable under this section shall be held responsible for;
1. Abiding by this regulation.
2. Abiding by the directions of the Ministry.
3. Submitting the documents to the relevant Government Authorities with regard to the Services undertaken and signing such documents.
4. Attending Government Authorities when directed to do so by such Authorities, and answering such question as maybe put forward with regard to the Services undertaken.
5. Any mishap caused due to the negligence of a staff or for any other reason.
f) Every License holder shall establish a system of accountability to their subscribers, which must include the following;
1. Establish a communication system at all times, between the Service provider and the subscribers.
2. Appoint staff's to be answerable.
3. Provide for the resolutions of the complaints lodged by the subscribers.
Sources of the Service provided (6)
Cable Television Services shall be provided in the Maldives according to the provisions of this regulation, through the sources made available by Telecommunication Authority of the Maldives for that purpose. A copy of the License for the sources, issued by the Telecommunication Authority must be submitted along with the application for the Cable Television Services.
Areas where the Services can be provided (7)
The areas where the Cable Television Service can be provided in the Maldives are as follows;
1. An atoll separated by nature or by administration.
2. A whole inhabited Island.
3. Geographically connected Islands.
4. Male’.
5. Tourist Resorts and Tourist Hotels.
Number of Licenses issued per region (8)
a) Number of Licenses issued for areas other than 5 of section 7 shall be determined as follows, depending on the number of households per area as issued by Ministry of Planning and National Development;
1. 1 license where the number of households per area is less than 101.
2. Maximum 2 licenses where the number of households per area is more than 100 and less than 601.
3. Maximum 3 licenses where the number of households per area is more than 600 and less than 2,701.
4. Maximum 4 licenses where the number of households per area is more than 2,700 and less than 20,001.
5. Maximum 5 licenses where the number of households per area is 20,000 and more.
b) The number of Cable Television licenses to be issued per area, in accordance with subsection (a), is stated in Column 4 of Table 1 of this regulation.
c) Changes brought to the column 4 of table 1 of this regulation, depending on the information on households derived from statistics of the census conducted by
Ministry of Planning and National Development, or for any other reason, shall be made by the Ministry.
d) A single license shall be issued to areas stipulated in 5 of section 7.
Licensees (9)
a) Cable Television License shall be issued to the following only;
1. Companies with 100% Maldivian shareholders; or
2. Corporations with a 100% Maldivian shareholders; or
3. Tourist Resorts; or
4. Tourist Hotels.
Application for License (10)
a) Application for a Cable Television License shall be made by completing and submitting the “Application form for Cable Television License” as stipulated in section 3 (c), along with the following documents, proving that the applicants fall within the ambit of section 9;
1. Where the applicant is a company, a copy of the company's Article of Association and
Memorandum of Association sealed by Ministry Economic Development and Trade; and
2. A copy of the Company's Registry.
3. Where the applicant is a corporation, a copy of the constitution of that corporation sealed by Ministry Economic Development and Trade; and
4. A copy of the Corporation's Registry.
5. Where the applicant is a tourist resort or a hotel, a copy of the permit issued by Ministry of Tourism to operate such resort or hotel; and