www.pib.nic.in
PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
*
SPECTRUM FEE WAIVED OF FOR COMMUNITY RADIOS
New Delhi: 6 Asvina, 1934
September 28, 2012
The Ministry of Communications IT has decided to waive off spectrum
fee for Community Radio Services (CRS). This follows requests received
from National Advisory Council, Ministry of Information Broadcasting
and the Community Radio Association for waiver of spectrum charges for
Community Radio Services.
Keeping in mind that the Government’s role is to create an enabling
environment for CRS, Sh Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications IT
has asked Department of Telecom to evolve detailed guidelines by 12th
October, to ensure that the spectrum is optimally used and the
channels use these airwaves only to inform and empower the common man.
It was felt that in the interest of inclusive and informed society, it
is apt that Government provide the spectrum (airwaves) for CRS at zero
cost. Although this may result in an opportunity cost of not more
than Rs. 25 lakh to the Government, the cost is far outweighed by the
benefit of informed, empowered and inclusive local communities and the
nation.
Sustainability is the biggest challenge for CRS. Community radio
focuses on low cost and low return pattern of operations. Donor
funding is crucial for CRS. As most of the donors come from local
communities, this financing option is inadequate and irregular for CRS
operating in remote areas and for the marginalized sections of the
society.
Community Radio Services (CRS) plays a vital role in building vibrant
communities, in mobilizing groups to action by informing and
empowering citizens, in giving voice to the marginalized groups of
society, and in bringing community needs to the attention of local and
even national governments. CRS can prove to be an excellent tool for
managing plurality in a society and for fostering democracy.
On 9 July 2012 10:10, archana.sm...@gmail.com wrote:
Dear All,
I forgot to mention one fact. During the policy consultations, which were
not attended by CRF, Ms Sahu, JS, MoIB, had circulated a very strongly
worded letter written by MR UK Verma, Secretary,MoIB, to Mr Chandrashekhar,
Secretary, Telecommunications to reconsider their decision of raising the
fee. This was also part of the documents submitted to Mr Sibal by CRA.
:)
Archana
Sent from BlackBerry® on Airtel
-Original Message-
From: Nishant | நிஷாந்த்
niche...@gmail.com
Sender: cr-india-boun...@sarai.net
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2012 02:20:17
To: cr-india@sarai.net
Subject: [cr-india] Sibal waives off license fee for community radio
Sibal waives off license fee for community radio
TANIA AMEER KHAN
(Millennium Post Exclusive)
NEW DELHI: The incisive letter that the National Advisory Council
(NAC) member Aruna Roy wrote to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi on
6 July has had desired effect. Roy had opposed the five-fold increase
in license fee for community radios, as per sources. The sources have
told 'Millennium Post' that the communications minister Kapil Sibal
has decided to scrap the fee for community radio stations altogether.
Highly placed sources in the Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology have said that Sibal has issued instructions to
R Chandrashekhar, a secretary in the Department of Telecommunications,
to waive off all license fee for community radio stations. It will
come as a huge relief to such radio stations.
In a letter addressed to Gandhi, Roy had highlighted the issue
'regarding the exorbitant fivefold license fee hike from Rs 19,700 to
Rs 91,000 by the Ministry of Communications and Information
Technology.'
In her petition to Gandhi, Roy pointed out the following: 'The
Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been largely supportive of
Community Radio and IB Secretary Uday Kumar Varma has written a
letter to the Secretary DoT, R Chandrashekhar to reconsider the hiking
of the fees in May 2012.'
Roy's petition also had support of many community radio organisations,
like the Digital Empowerment Forum, Barefoot College and the gram
panchayat of Dandasli. Roy reminded Gandhi in the letter that earlier
a similar petition was sent to her by the community radio activist
Stalin K.
Roy also said, 'Community radio operators have been petitioning since
then for an exemption in spectrum fees and are now instead faced with
this mammoth fee increase, which will surely kill this fledgling
initiative.'
'Community radio is a powerful tool for the poor, not-for-profit
companies meant to serve society. They have enormous benefits as an
information and communication tool and are being used to great effect
all over the country,' added Roy in the letter.
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