To prevent a monopoly by a single operator in certain districts, the Executive Yuan has approved a draft amendment to the current Cable Television Act, which will allow local cable television operators to provide services in different areas. Once the amendment is passed, the monthly subscription fees will be decided by the central government, which are likely to be lower than the current rates.

Taiwan has 51 cable TV service districts run by 59 operators.

Almost one district is monopolized by one service operator.

For residents living in the same city but different districts, the cable TV service providers are different.

But in the future, service providers are allowed to offer full digital service across the district line, giving consumers more options.

NCC chairperson Su Herng says a merger trend among operators can be expected but to avoid monopoly, service providers are not allowed to own over one third of the customers nationwide.

To protect viewers' rights, the NCC also cancels operators' rights to broadcast local commercials, which service operators strongly oppose.

In the future, the central government would take back the rights from the local government to review the rate, so the monthly fee may be cheaper.

However, service operators believe the new policy is reducing their income and rising costs of digitalization.

They hope the government can offer them some initiatives to effectively reach the goal of the law amendment.