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However, Trai has suggested against permitting any pilot projects
on MMDS or other technologies before laying down a comprehensive
policy and regulatory framework.
Dwelling on a licensing regime, Trai has said licences could be
given on the basis of cities after an in principle announcement
is made. If in case there is interest shown in particular regions,
then those regions should also be allowed to be put on bid.
In the case of FM radio, no networking was permitted. However,
the case of television is different where there are already a large
number of private channels having national coverage and viewership.
Therefore, networking for television should be permitted to allow
for competition with established national cable and satellite networks.
In view of the large number of private TV channels having national
coverage, networking has been recommended. In respect of foreign
investment it has been proposed that there should be a comprehensive
review to bring about a greater consistency in the rules of various
segments of media sector, Trai has conveyed to the government.
During the consultation process, it was noted that the telecom
sector is also interested in the rea of terrestrial broadcasting
and, accordingly, this review would need to take note of the likely
convergence in future between
telecommunications and broadcasting.
A consultation paper on this subject had been circulated in February,
2005.
Some of the major reasons for making these recommendations are:
• The Supreme Court judgment of 1995 on airwaves that no medium
should be controlled by a monopoly either of the state or of any
individual, group or organisation.
• The private sector would complement the public sector and provide
more resources for the development of this alternative.
• This would give an additional choice to the consumers to view
channels in a free-to-air mode.
• The recommendations recognise that community television could
also be permitted and detailed recommendations on this would be
sent once government takes an in principle decision to allow the
private sector for terrestrial
broadcasting and also after the government policy on community television
is finalised.
In respect of commercial television broadcasting, it has been recommended
that for the present this should be permitted in both analogue and
digital modes since at present there is sufficient spectrum to support
a few players
even in the analogue mode.
The general disqualifications for a policy relating to private
participation in terrestrial broadcasting, according to Trai, could
be the following:
• Companies not incorporated in India.
• Any company controlled by a person convicted of an offence involving
turpitude or declared as insolvent or applied for being declared
insolvent.
• Subsidiary company of any applicant in the same centre.
• Companies with the same management within a centre.
• More than one inter-connected undertaking at the same centre.
• Religious bodies
• Political bodies
• Advertising agencies
Details of frequency allocation for analogue and digital service
could be finalised at a later date once the major decisions are
taken, Trai has said.
Allocation of spectrum would also have to take note of the requirements
of wireless based telecommunication services.
However, these set of recommendations need not necessarily mean
that pubcaster Doordarshan's monopoly over terrestrial broadcast
is immediately under threat.
Before any action happens on this front, the government would have
to take a view on Trai's reccomendation and then, probably, seek
Parliament's okay too on the subject of allowing private players
in terrestrial broadcasting,
which may be time consuming.
The full text of the recommendations is available on Trai's web
site, www.trai.gov.in.
• Trusts, Societies, non-profit oganisations controlled/associated
companies.
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