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"You cannot cage technology by a uniform media policy," Information
and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Ravi Prasad said on Tuesday, indicating
that fast changing technology would hamper formulating an overarching
media policy.
Talking to journalists after a meeting with a delegation comprising
some of the powerful media barons of the country, Prasad said even
the Convergence Communications Bill, that envisages a super-regulator
for the sectors of IT, telecom and broadcasting with an aim to being
about uniformity, "needs to be re-looked". The Bill is pending for
an okay from the policy-makers after a parliamentary panel suggested
70-odd amendments before it could be thought of being enacted into
a law.
Elaborating on the government's role in the media, Prasad said
that it could be that of facilitator without having a control over
the media. "The government can come out with an expansion-oriented
policy," he added, hinting that suppression of foreign investment
in the field of media is not something that the government is likely
to do.
Asked about the demands of the India media baron on level playing
field and uniformity in the foreign investment guidelines in the
print and electronic medium, Prasad said, "If there is a need for
revisiting that, we'd do it. But that cannot happen now, immediately."
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