| NEW
DELHI: The proposed Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India (Brai) is likely to
cost the government Rs 601.1 million to set up, which includes recurring and non-recurring
expenses.
According to projections made by the information and broadcasting
ministry, the annual cost on pay and allowances of officers and staff of Brai
would be Rs 85.7 million, with the chairperson's remuneration being the highest
wherein the monthly financial implication would be Rs 60,000.
Non-recurring expenses have
been pegged at Rs 124.7 million, which include basic infrastructure for Brai.
The Indian government is proposing to set up Brai under the yet to be enacted
Broadcasting Services Regulation Act. The functions of Brai will be to oversee
the broadcast and cable industry in all its entirety with powers ranging from
granting licences for any type of broadcasting services to ensuring quality of
services to monitor content beamed on radio and TV channels. It has also been proposed
that Brai have five regional offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati. There
would be six full-time members of the regulatory authority, apart from the chairperson,
with everybody's term of office being for five years or till the time they attain
the age of 65 --- whichever being earlier. The chairperson or any other
member would not be eligible for a second term, but a member can be eligible for
appointment as chairperson for the remaining part of his term. Even though
Brai is being set up as an independent organization, the government would keep
a control over it through a government official of not less than additional secretary's
rank who will act as the chief executive of Brai. A draft note, prepared
by the government, states that the secretary of Brai would act as its CEO and
the federal government would make available a panel of not less than three officials
for a selection to be made. All broadcast and cable related cases pending
before the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), presently acting as the
broadcast regulator, and the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)
will be deemed as transferred to Brai once it is set up. Also read: Broadcast
Bill still has minefields to clear Broadcast
Bill ready; scheduled to be tabled in monsoon session (Rs 45.86= 1US$) | 
