Jaitley speaks out

Indian information and broadcasting (I&B) minister Arun Jaitley said once again yesterday that the Broadcasting Bill is before the group of ministers telecom and IT convergence. The committee will decide its final shape, he said while speaking to the daily The Times of India. He said that the bill had been sent to the law ministry for before the draft was finalised. The department of telecom prepared the telecast and frequency allocation side of the bill, which was then amalgamated with the recommendations given by the the I&B ministry. 

He could not give any target date when the Bill is likely to see the light of day. He added that there was undue importance should not be given to the administrative controls of the various government departments. He said that he preferred to let the overall structure fall in place, following which the system would be created. 

Jaitley hinted that a comprehensive law on convergence is likely to become the de facto legal recourse for even the television industry.