(a) whether the Government is aware that various cities particularly Thiruvananthapuram has not been included in the Phase-Ill auction of new FM radio channels which purports to open 839 FM channels across 294 cities;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government proposes to reconsider to include Thiruvananthapuram In the second batch of FM Phase-lll e-auctions;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE N THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION S BROADCASTING, {COL RA3YAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}
(a) to (e) : Thiruvananthapuram is not included under FM Phase-Ill auction since all the four channels available there are occupied and operational in FM Phase-ll, and none is vacant. These channels are allowed to migrate to Phase-lll on payment of Ncn-refundable One Time Migration Fee
(NOTMF), as per Cabinet approval dated 16 01.2015. The decision of the Government is to auction vacant channels in existing cities (where one or more private FM channel is already operational) under 1st batch of FM Phase-III.
As such, there is no proposal to include Thiruvananthapuram in the second batch of FM Phase-lll auctions.