Dear All, I'm sincerely hoping that the news is true. If the report is indeed true, there can't be any news better than this for the CR movement in India.
Now, I think, instead of clamoring for credit, it's time to step on the gas and get the humbled big babus in WPC to now implement the relevant recommendations of the 2010 Unesco National Consultation on Community Radio (http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002128/212875E.pdf): Recommendations: *1. Online filling of the SACFA and WOL applications should be made optional. Alternatively, the application should be completely revamped to make it easier to fill. 2. The CR online application needs to be separated from those of other wireless licences. 3. The WPC wing should set up an effective mechanism to provide quick feedback to the applicants on their applications and relevant documents. 4. Besides taking necessary action to simplify the process and revamping the application process itself, the WPC should set up a separate dedicated wing to process CR applications. 5. The Ministry should provide concessions for higher transmitter power in difficult terrains. It could also consider provision of repeaters in extreme conditions. 6. The current duty structures need to be reviewed to make it more enabling for CR stations. Given the absence of indigenous manufacturers of electronic equipment there are no options besides waiving existing duties and taxes for CR applicants to bring down the prices. Same is the case with acoustic treatment imports. 7. A simple certification process with checks and balances in place for agencies wanting to access transmitter kits from abroad is the need of the hour. In addition to this, more agencies should be allowed to manufacture transmitters. This is bound to decrease the costs on transmitters. 8. Most agencies propagate high-end technologies that might prove difficult for CBOs and even some educational institutions to invest in. Start up CR stations must be encouraged to explore low cost technology options too. 9. Circular broadcast polarisation should be allowed for CR stations being set up by CBOs and educational institutions too under the CR Policy. *Warm regards vasuki belavadi* * -- *VASUKI BELAVADI* *Associate Professor & Faculty Fellow, Unesco Chair on Community Media<http://snscomm.uohyd.ernet.in/uccommedia/> , Department of Communication <http://snscomm.uohyd.ernet.in/comm/>, University of Hyderabad <http://www.uohyd.ac.in/>, Gachibowli, Hyderabad-500046, Andhra Pradesh, India Phone (Off): +91 40 23135505, Email: [email protected] / **Skype: vbelavadi, Linkedin: vasuki belavadi Extensions <http://blog.vasukibelavadi.com>/ Website<http://www.vasukibelavadi.com> / Bol Hyderabad 90.4 fm <http://snscomm.uohyd.ernet.in/bolhyd/>*
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