[cr-india] Community Radio in India: A Brief History and Current Policy (Vinod Pavarala and Sajan Venniyoor) Why Community Media?

[Frederick Noronha]

Community Radio in India: A Brief History and Current Policy
Vinod Pavarala
and
Sajan Venniyoor
Why Community Media?

Affordable Access to Media: a Fundamental Right
Media Globalisation: Catering to commercial, political interests;
infringing diversity of information
Civil society: an arena of collective action around shared interests,
purposes and values
Alternative Media for Revitalizing Civil Society

What is Community Radio?
Characteristics of
Community Radio
Community radio stations:
Serve a recognizable community.
Promote access to training as a step towards media democratisation
Are motivated by community well being, not commerce
Are managed and owned by the community members
Are editorially independent of government, commercial and religious
institutions and political parties
Provide right of access to minority and marginalised groups
Promote and protect cultural and linguistic diversity

Ferment for Community Radio in India
Historic Experiments in participatory development
Local Radio Stations
Phase I and II of the Private FM radio Licensing Policy
Civil Society seeking Democratization of Airwaves

Landmarks in Community Radio Campaign
Feb.1995: Supreme Court judgment
Sept. 1996: Bangalore Declaration
July 2000: Pastapur Initiative
Jan. 2003: Campus Radio Guidelines
May 2004: MIB workshop to Design Enabling Framework for CR in India
October 2005: Proposed inclusive CR policy with GOM
September 2006: GOM clears CR policy
November 16, 2006: Cabinet approves policy

Community Radio Initiatives in India
Alternative for India Development-AID project in Daltongunj (Jharkhand)
Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan-KMVS project in Bhuj (Gujarat)
VOICES project in Budhikote (Karnataka)
Deccan Development Society-DDS project in Pastapur (Andhra Pradesh)

Current CR Policy
Who is Eligible?
Civil society and Voluntary organisations
Educational Institutions including State Agriculture Universities
(SAUs), ICAR institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras
Registered Societies and Autonomous Bodies and Public Trusts
registered under Societies Act
Registration at the time of application should at least be three years old.

Application Process
Processing fee of Rs. 2500/-
Proof of Registration as 'Legal Entity' and a 'non-profit' organization
At least three years of service to the local community

Details of the proposed CRS project
Grant of Permission Agreement
Five year license period and non-transferable
No licence fee; but spectrum usage fee
Broadcasting to commence within 3 months of the GOPA
Only one license per Applicant

Content Regulation & Monitoring
Programmes of immediate relevance to the community : to reflect
special interests/needs
At least 50% of content be generated with participation of local community
Programmes in the local language and dialect(s)

Content Regulation & Monitoring
CRS to adhere to AIR Programme and Advertising Codes
CRS to preserve programmes broadcast for three months
No news and current affairs or political programming

Application Process
Clearances from MIB (one month), Home Affairs, Defence (three months)
Letter of Intent (LOI) from MIB and frequency earmarking from MoCIT
Application to WPC for frequency allocation and SACFA clearance
Rs. 25,000/- bank guarantee
Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) from MIB / Wireless Operating
License (WOL) from MoCIT

Transmitter Power and Range
Maximum antenna height: 30 meters
Transmitting Power: 100 Watts ERP, to cover 5-10 km radius
250 Watt ERP in special cases
Transmitter located within geographical area of the community

Funding
Funding from multilateral aid agencies
No sponsored programmes except from Central & State Governments and
public interest themes
Advertising permitted up to 5 (Five) minutes per hour of broadcast

END OF FORWARDED MESSAGE....

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