[cr-india] Feb'02 Kathmandu Workshop - Policy recommendations

[Subramaniam Vincent]

FYI. The following was the report of the CR Policy
discussion group on the third/final day of the
Kathmandu Workshop on CR in South Asia.

Ashish: Can you post the report from the Sustainability
group?

-Subbu

* * *

COMMUNITY RADIO IN SOUTH ASIA : EXPLORING THE WAY FORWARD
Workshop in Kathmandu
21-23 February 2002


		Community Radio :Policy recommendations


Definition of Community Radio

Community radio is a broadcasting organisation established to provide
communication support for the purpose of social, economic and cultural
development of a community within a geographical location owned and operated
by the community on a non-profit basis.

Rationale for Ownership

In the light of the changes occurring in the broadcasting scene and as a
consequence to the deregulations and liberalisation of media ownership, it
is strongly felt that community radio has an important role to play in
giving expression to the community’s needs and aspirations in order to make
development efforts meaningful and relevant to the community. It is also
felt that community radio combined with modern information technology(ICT)
could be a very positive role in bridging the digital gap currently in
existence and help in transfer of technology to the marginalised communities
who are currently alienated from the benefits of such technologies.

We recommend to the state to accept as a matter of policy the need to grant
a license to own and operate  community radio when such requests come from a
community or an organisation which represents the community living within a
geographical area. The licensing authority will decide the procedure as well
as the basis for  the grant of license after careful examination of the
purpose, objective and capacity to own and operate a low power transmitter
which covers the location of the community.

The Community Radio station shall establish administrative /management
structures which will ensure participation of and accountability to the
specific geographical community it will serve.

In frequency planning, the licensing authority will take due note of the
requirements of  Community Radio broadcasting and reserve certain
frequencies for such purposes .

Recommendations for Programme Content


•	The Community Radio will be required to operate within the existing laws
of the land and confirm to the broadcast code.
•	The Community Radio will refrain from any kind of advocacy promotion  or
propagation of the agenda of a particular political party or in any way
contribute to religious or communal disharmony.
•	The Community Radio would be required to address itserlf primarily to the
felt needs of the community


23 February 2002




_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com