TRAI Consultation Paper on Issues related to FM Radio Broadcasting

TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has issued a Consultation Paper on Issues related to FM Radio Broadcasting on 9th Feb'23.

Consultation paper can be downloaded at :

https://www.trai.gov.in/consultation-paper-issues-related-fm-radio-broadcasting

Summary of issues for Consultation :

Q1. Are provisions related to Annual License Fee prescribed in the extant Policy guidelines for FM Radio broadcasting reasonable? If not, please provide methodology and criteria for arriving at Annual License Fee for private FM Radio channels with detailed justification.

Q2. Is there a need to extend the permission period for existing FM Radio licensees?

a. If yes, what should be the revised permission period? Please prescribe the period with detailed reasoning/ justification. 

b. If not, is there a need to extend any other assistance to private FM Radio broadcasters to overcome the impact of the pandemic? If so, please suggest suitable measures with quantified parameters and justification.

Q3. Is there a need to review the present Policy guidelines as regards the News and current affairs on private FM radio stations? If so, please provide detailed justification, including the additional compliance/ reporting (if any), duration of news and current affair programmes and method of effective monitoring may be suggested.

Q4. Is there a need to mandate that all the Mobile Handset manufactured/sold in India will require to have an in-built FM Radio receiver? Please provide detailed justification for your comments.

Q5. Stakeholders may also provide their comments/ suggestions on any other issue that may be relevant to the present consultation.

Stakeholders must submit their comments by 23rd March 2023.