*Community radio protests against spectrum fee hike<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Community-radio-protests-against-spectrum-fee-hike/articleshow/13101664.cms> * Himanshi Dhawan, TNN | May 12, 2012
NEW DELHI: A five-fold increase in spectrum fee for community radio stations has the fledgling community up in arms, pointing out that the huge hike will have a crippling impact on the not-for-profit run stations. Prompted by the outcry, the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry has written a letter of protest to the ministry of telecommunications and IT. By a recent order, the telecom ministry has increased annual royalty charges from Rs 19,000 to Rs 91,000. Expressing his concern over this unilateral decision, I&B secretary Uday Kumar Varma said that ministry's views were not sought before the decision was taken. "This five-fold increase in spectrum fee would have a crippling impact on the growth of community radio stations in India as many organizations would find it impossible to meet this huge increase in royalty charges," said the letter written to telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar. So far, the ministry has given 370 permissions to various NGOs, Krishi Vigyan Kendra and recognized educational institutions. Now, around 132 stations are operational. The ministry has asked for a roll-back of the fee. However the high spectrum could spell death knell for the fledgling industry that continues to struggle for steady finances. A delegation of the Community Radio Association had met telecom & IT minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday. In a statement, the Association said the spectrum fee hike would "badly affect the new applications as well as the present licence holders of the small FM community radio stations run by communities and broadcasting within a radius of 5-15 kms with a 50 watt transmitter. Most of the community radio stations of the country are currently facing a severe problem of sustenance and finding it difficult to even meet their recurring expenditure." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Community-radio-protests-against-spectrum-fee-hike/articleshow/13101664.cms
Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to www.crforum.in
