Against that background, technical director of JACS, Errol Robinson, said they were appealing to the Government to provide assistance to cable operators in the areas of training and acquisition of the requisite equipment.

Three weeks ago, the Broadcasting Commission launched the Code of Programming to protect children from potentially damaging content on the airwaves. It requires, by January 13, 2003, all local television and radio stations to rate and schedule programmes according to content standards defined by the Commission. It also requires on-screen advisories for any material unsuitable for children.

In an interview with Sunday Business, Mr. Robinson said "we have no quarrel with the Broadcasting Commission, but this venture is going to be expensive."

He said JACS, which has a very large subscriber base in Portmore and Spanish Town, St. Catherine, was already seeking to comply with guidelines previously issued by the Commission with respect to adult programming and had invested in decoders as a means of controlling those transmissions.

"We tried to adhere to those regulations, but there will have to be a lot of training to comply with these new regulations, and that is going to be costly," Mr. Robinson said.

Noting that violence was exhibited in even cartoon programmes for which they would now have to issue advisories under the new Code, the technical director said, "I think the onus should be on parents to provide more guidance to their children. To put that on cable operators is going to be a very tough task."

Mr. Robinson said some of the cable companies had already embarked on plans to invest in equipment to provide Internet service under the Government's liberalisation of the telecommunications market, and were already facing high overheads as a result of high energy costs, taxes and a five per cent cess charged by the Broadcasting Commission.

"When you put these additional costs on us it will become prohibitive," said Mr. Robinson. While conceding the advantage of any such new technology to the collection of monthly payments from subscribers - since the company would be able to switch off individuals who refuse to pay - he said the costs involved would be overwhelming.

"I think we should be responsible for the type of programming that we transmit, but this venture is going to be expensive," said Mr. Robinson, noting that it could cost anywhere between $30 million and $60 million to acquire and put in place new technology. "I think the powers-that-be should give us some assistance such as a rebate or loan."

Another subscriber television company, Allied Cable Vision, has already implemented some form of technology required for the Children's Code and will therefore probably be the first to be in compliance with the Broadcasting Commission's regulations.

Harold Webber, the company's managing director, said they have been providing "set top" or converter boxes to their subscribers in Duhaney Park, Patrick City, Pembroke Hall, Red Hills, Ziadie Gardens, Valentine Gardens, Molynes Road, Arlene Gardens and surrounding areas in St. Andrew for the past two years.

The converter is placed on each television set and subscribers can block or unblock programmes. Mr. Webber said the company charges a one time fixed security deposit of $600 for each converter and $20 per month for rental.

"We saw it coming a long time," Mr. Webber said of the Broadcasting Commission's recent launch of the Children's Code. "As a result, we started the project to install these set top boxes between 1998 and 1999," he said.

Mr. Webber said that for those cable operators who have not yet acquired the equipment, "it's going to cost them lots of money to invest in this technology. We saw it coming, we made the investment and we are the better for it today."

The new framework instituted by the Broadcasting Commission is intended to protect children from the adverse affects of violence, sex and adult language across the media. It will require parties to rate and schedule their programmes, including news, sports and advertisements in line with content standards issued by the Commission.

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