v good - but what are the guidelines this refers to? geeta
On Fri, Sep 28, 2012 at 4:09 PM, Nishant | நிஷாந்த் <[email protected]>wrote: > 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, <[email protected]> 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 > > <[email protected]> > > Sender: [email protected] > > Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2012 02:20:17 > > To: <[email protected]> > > 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 I&B 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. > > > > www.millenniumpost.in > > Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to > > www.crforum.in > Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to > www.crforum.in
Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to www.crforum.in
