CRA IS in touch with MoCIT, *may be* we can succeed in convincing the authorities to abolish the spectrum fees entirely. Wouldn't that be great:)
Archana On Mon, May 14, 2012 at 1:52 PM, sajan venniyoor <[email protected]>wrote: > [Thanks to Mitu Varma for this link] > > DoT asked to withdraw hike in spectrum fee for community > radio<http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/dot-asked-to-withdraw-hike-in-spectrum-fee-for-community-radio/7623/> > Press Trust of India / New Delhi May 12, 2012 > > The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked the Department of > Telecommunications to roll back its decision of a five-fold hike in > spectrum fee for community radio stations. > > I&B Secretary Uday Kumar Varma has written a letter to the Secretary (DoT) > R Chandrashekhar, pointing out that Community Radio stations did not run > for profits, so the decision to raise the spectrum fee should be > reconsidered, official sources said today. > > The DoT had earlier decided to increase the annual spectrum fee for > community radio stations from Rs 19,000 to Rs 91,000. In his letter, Varma > pointed out that the I&B Ministry had not been consulted by the DoT before > this fee hike was decided. > > The five-fold increase in spectrum fee would have a crippling effect on > the growth of community radio stations in the country as many organisations > would find it impossible to meet this huge hike in charges, Varma said in > his letter. > > Community Radio is one of the focus areas of the I and B ministry which > has also considered providing financial and other support to groups who can > operate such Radio stations. > > The I&B Ministry, which has even instituted awards to promote community > radio, feels that the increase in spectrum fee would send a negative signal > to groups interested in setting up such stations. > > Community radio groups have also been protesting the DoT decision to hike > fee. > > "This fee hike puts an unnecessary burden on Community Radio Stations > which are struggling to make ends meet. TRAI had in 2004 suggested that > there should be no spectrum fee for community radio, which should be the > case," N Ramkrishnan, General Secretary of the Community Radio Forum of > India said. > > > http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/dot-asked-to-withdraw-hike-in-spectrum-fee-for-community-radio/7623/ > > > > Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to > www.crforum.in > -- Founder, SMART NGO Director, Radio Mewat Director, Hardnews Magazine 145, Gautam Nagar New Delhi- 110049 Ph: 011 26517545, 41642241 Telefax: 011 26528263 Mob: +91 9811166297 website: www.smartngo.org www.hardnewsmedia.com
Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to www.crforum.in
