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NEW DELHI: A
Parliamentary Standing Committee has urged the Government
to create a hassle-free environment for the private broadcasters
to encourage more entrepreneurs to enter the field of private
FM broadcasting.
The
Standing Committee for Information Technology also wanted prompt
action to be taken for allotment of the remaining channels so
that more new players are encouraged to take up private broadcasting.
In its report on budgetary demands presented to Parliament,
the Committee has noted that permission has so far been given
to 266 private FM radio stations of which 58 channels were operationalised
by March 29 last. A total of 97 could not be allotted as the
bids were low, and these would be notified again.
An
amount of Rs 11454.8 million was collected as one-time entry
fee from the Phase II licensees and Rs 277.9 million was realized
as annual fee during 2006-2007 till February 21 this year.
An amount of Rs 10 million has been allocated in the annual
plan for co-location of five new towers.
The
Committee noted that the policy relating to private FM stations
was initially started in 1999 for attracting private initiative
to operationalise FM radio stations that provide programmes
of local content
and relevance. Phase II was notified on July 13, 2005.
In a separate Action Taken Report presented to Parliament,
the Committee chaired by Member of Parliament Nikhil Kumar
has expressed the hope that 'steps will be taken to streamline
the system and all out efforts will be made for installation
and operationalisation of all the FM transmitters targeted
for 2006-07 in the current financial year itself.
Expressing concern about the unsatisfactory progress of expansion
of All India Radio's own FM network, the Committee noted that
an amount of only Rs
221.2 million had been spent out of a total allocation of
Rs 1545.1 million from 2002-03 to 2005-06. The total outlay
for expansion of FM services of All India Radio is Rs 3280
million.
In its remarks relating to community radio, the Committee
noted that twenty such stations were operational as of now
and 63 communities and non-governmental organizations had
been issued letters of intent for setting up stations.
While expressing its satisfaction over this, the Committee
emphasized the need for spreading the community radio culture
to rural areas and wanted the Information and Broadcasting
Ministry to work out a detailed plan through seminars and
other means to create awareness about this in grassroot organizations
in rural areas. It said the amount of Rs 100,000 for this
purpose in fiscal 2-7-08 was to meager and should be raised.
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