Question : Encryption of Channels

(a) Whether the Government proposes to make encryption of channels mandatory for all bands other than C band;
b) If so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard;
c) The manner in which such a steps will be beneficial in stopping the illegal broadcast of channels;
d) Whether the Government is considering to amend the up-linking and downlinking rules and if so, the details thereof;
e) Whether it is true that some channels are being beamed on DD Free Dish without the licences causing a huge loss to the exchequer and if so, the details thereof; and
f) The steps taken by the Government to penalise those channels involved in wrongful deeds?

THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
{ SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR}
(a) to (f): Free-to-Air channels are not mandatorily required to be encrypted. It has been reported that signals of certain free-to-air channels, though not on DD Free Dish platform, are also being received due to co-location of signals of these channels and DD Free Dish and non-mandatory requirement for encryption of signals of free-to-air channels.