(a) whether the Government has received any proposal from Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India(TRAI) for allowing the broadcast of news and current affairs on FM channels;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI P.R. DASMUNSI)
(a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) of LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.18 TO BE
ANSWERED ON 26.02.08.
(a) to (c) : Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has submitted their recommendations
on issues relating to Phase III of expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting to the Government on
22.02.2008. The Authority while giving recommendations on various issues also recommended
that FM Radio Broadcasters may be permitted to broadcast news taking content from All India
Radio, Doordarshan, authorized T.V. News channels, United News of India, Press Trust of India
and any other authorized news agency without any substantive change in the content.
The recommendations of TRAI are being examined by the Government.