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

[ramnarayan.k at gmail.com]

Dear Frederick,

Thanks for the byte by byte running commentary on the CR Forum
happenings of today. Doesn't beat being there but fills in some of the
gaps atleast

Thanks
ram

Frederick Noronha wrote:
> 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....
> 
> WANDA THE FISH: THE FORTUNE TELLER: Give thought to your reputation.
> Consider changing name and moving to a new town.