MUMBAI: With the countdown to the conditional access rollout deadline well and truely on, the information and broadcast ministry is attempting to "educate" the public on CAS.

Big spread ads appeared today in all the mainline dailies listing frequently asked questions and common curiosities about CAS.

This is the first time that the ministry has issued a list of answers to 16 frequently asked questions simultaneously, including an interesting one - Is CAS a 'crack pot' scheme by the government?

With the help of the questionnaire, the ministry aims to inform the public about various aspects of CAS, including the difference between FTA and pay channels, whether it is necessary to buy a set top box (STB) and how much one needs to pay for the STB. The FAQs also inform the public about their rights as consumers and where to go in case they are hassled. 

The I&B ministry also aims to dispel few rumours including the issues about substandard STBs or increase in the monthly bills post CAS or government acting as a big brother.