The Hindu Business Line : State Govts queue up for a broadcast show

FM Radio norms bar political parties, religious bodies, advertising agencies, trusts, societies and non-profit bodies from bidding for channel licences.

New Delhi, Feb 13 After political parties, it is State Governments that are now smitten by the broadcast bug. The glamour, power and reach of media today has induced a host of State Governments - from Delhi and Punjab to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh – to line up before the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for launching radio and cable TV ventures.

The Ministry has so far received requests from Delhi Government wanting to start a radio channel and from the Tamil Nadu Government to set up a multi-system operator (MSO)/cable distribution network.

Similar requests have come in the past from the Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Punjab, which have sought to use broadcast services for educational and development programmes.

But whether the existing laws of the land would permit States to go ahead with their plans is a grey area. In the face of all these requests, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is wondering whether State Governments or political parties “should, could, or need to be” involved in such businesses.

Currently, FM Radio guidelines explicitly bar political parties, religious bodies, advertising agencies, trusts, societies and non profit organisations from bidding for channel licences. Similar guidelines in the Draft Broadcast Bill 1997 also disqualify governments and local authorities from owning broadcasting businesses.

“We are seeking clarity on the issue and have also sought the opinion of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India,” said a senior ministry official. The authority is expected to come out with a consultation paper before it makes its final recommendations.

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