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Here's TRAI's Notice on their Open House discussion on "Licensing Issues Related to Community Radio". I am also appending the Issues for Consultation (from TRAI's Consultation Paper on CR).<BR>
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Sajan.<BR>
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TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA<BR>
A-2/14, SAFDARJUNG ENCLAVE<BR>
NEW DELHI – 110029.<BR>
<BR>
The TRAI will be holding Open House Discussion in Delhi and Mumbai on the following subject at the date, venue and time given below:-<BR>
<BR>
Licensing issues related to Community Radio <BR>
<BR>
18.10.2004(Monday)<BR>
Kautilya Hall, Hotel Samrat, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi <BR>
10.00 A.M. to 12.30 P.M.<BR>
<BR>
20.10.2004(Wednesday)<BR>
Regency Hall, Hotel Holiday Inn, Juhu, Mumbai<BR>
11.00 A.M. to 1.30 P.M.<BR>
<BR>
All interested agencies / individuals are invited to participate. The consultation paper is available on the TRAI Website www.trai.gov.in. Issues posed for public consultation will also be available at the venue of the Open House Discussion. For any clarification, please contact Shri Rakesh Kacker, Advisor (B&CS), Ph. 011-26713291, Fax. 011-26713442, email: rkacker@trai.gov.in.<BR>
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Issues for consultation <BR>
<BR>
Eligibility:<BR>
<BR>
a) What should be the eligibility criteria or would it be better to lay down non-eligibility criteria?<BR>
b) Whether Gram Panchayats and other local bodies should be eligible?<BR>
c) Whether nationality of persons controlling the applicant organization should be an eligibility criterion?<BR>
d) Whether financial condition of the applicant organization, its ability to raise resources and overall financial sustainability should be an eligibility criterion?<BR>
e) Whether the applicant should be a legal entity?<BR>
f) Whether Co-operatives engaged in commercial activities should be eligible?<BR>
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Licensing Process: <BR>
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a) Whether the applicants may be given temporary permits to operate for the time taken to grant a regular license?<BR>
b) Whether an Independent Licensing Body should be set up to examine, evaluate and decide on the applications for Community Radio License?<BR>
c) Whether the requirement of furnishing a Bank Guarantee be done away with?<BR>
d) Whether any of the clearances required today can be dispensed with?<BR>
e) Whether time limits for individual clearances should be laid down, beyond which the department may be deemed to have given consent?<BR>
f) What should be the period of license?<BR>
g) What should be the maximum permitted transmitter power and antenna height?<BR>
h) Should separate frequencies be earmarked for Low Power Commercial Radio or should they be part of the same licensing process of community radio?<BR>
i) If frequencies are to be earmarked, then should the licensing framework follow the parameters of larger commercial services of phase-II?<BR>
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Funding:<BR>
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a) Whether Community Radio Stations should be given grants by the Government? If so, whether this should be given by the Government of India or State Governments? If not, what possible arrangements could be allowed funding the operations?<BR>
b) Whether commercial advertising should be permitted? If yes, then with what restrictions, if any?<BR>
c) Whether Community Radio Stations should be permitted to accept funds from foreign donors?<BR>
d) Whether any license fee and spectrum use charges should be levied by the Government?<BR>
e) Whether any relaxation should be given in customs duty for import of equipment?<BR>
Regulation & Monitoring:<BR>
a) Whether there should be a separate programme code for community radio?<BR>
b) Whether the ban on broadcast of news and current affairs programmes should continue?<BR>
c) Whether Community radio stations should be required to keep recordings of their transmission? If yes, then what should be the specified period?<BR>
d) Whether the existing guidelines need to be revised, especially with regard to religious programmes? <BR>
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