Days after mid-day reported that Mumbaikar Ravi Nair had approached the Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP) to oppose the tariff set by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the media consultant has taken his pledge against the authorities further. Nair, who had disposed TRAI's plan that offered 100 channels — including those that are Free To Air (FTA) — at a Network Capacity Fee (NCF) of Rs 153, has now arrived at a stipulated monthly plan of Rs 199.

Nair believes the amount is apt to meet the preferences of consumers, who, he says, currently shell out R600 per month when subscribing to the paid channels of their choice. "Five days ago, I set up an e-mail id, cable199only@rediffmail.com. We've received 1,000 mails from consumers and cable operators, who have agreed that it is a fair amount [to price the tariff at]." IN e-mails sent to Nair, copies of which are with mid-day, consumers have pledged their support for him, asserting that the monthly fee that they are currently paying is no less than Rs 400.