SINGAPORE : The Media Development Authority (MDA) wants the public's views on whether telcos should be subjected to the same laws as broadcasters, now that viewers can watch TV on their mobile phones or other hand-held devices.

Ling Pek Ling, Director of Media Policy, Media Development Authority, said, "What we want the parents and other concerned members of the public to tell us is whether they feel that the mobile phone should be regulated the same way as the regular TV, so that if their children are watching TV programmes over the mobile phones, should that be regulated in the same way as the current television services."

The technology to watch TV programmes on these devices, such as screens on buses, in-car navigation system and laptops, is different from that used by mobile phone subscribers to watch programmes using 3G phones.

This is because the number of viewers using 3G phones to watch programmes is limited at any one time, since 3G services are offered on a point-to-point basis.

However, since mobile phones are currently the most common way to watch programmes, MDA said telcos are now licensed under what it calls a "light touch class license approach".

MDA is now proposing to move the telcos to a licensed framework. This would subject them to the same kind of TV content codes which players like MediaCorp and cable provider StarHub are subject to.

That is why MDA is looking for feedback in areas such as technology standards, licensing framework, market structure issues, as well as content and advertising regulations. Summary of key proposals for public feedback is available at www.mda.gov.sg.

The public can submit their comments to MDA at mda_mtvs_comment@mda.gov.sg on or before noon, 4 January 2008. - CNA/ms