TRAI Issues Consultation Paper On Community Radio

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper (CP) on “Issues related to Community Radio Stations”. The consultation is aimed at improving the proliferation of community radios in the country.

The consultation paper seeks the comments and views of the stakeholders on issues related to community radio stations.

“Community Radio Stations (CRS) serve a local and well-defined community focusing on the day-to-day concerns of its audience and satisfying their specific information and entertainment needs. The Government announced its policy for the grant of permission for setting up of CRS in December 2002 permitting well-established educational institutions, including IITs/IIMs to establish CRS. In order to allow greater participation by the civil society on issues relating to development and social change, the Government on 4th December 2006 announced a revised policy for CRS that has been duly amended in 2017,” read a release from TRAI.

“MIB vide its references dated 11.11.2021 and 17.01.2022 requested the Authority to provide its recommendations, under section 11(1)(a)(ii) and 11(1) (d) of the TRAI Act, 1997 on the following issues: (i) Inclusion of not-for-profit companies, registered under Section 8 of Companies Act 2013, in the list of eligible organizations (ii) Increasing of permission period from existing period of 5 years to 10 years 2 (iii) Maximum duration of advertisement per hour of broadcast on CRS (iv) Number of CR Stations operated in each district of operation by Not-for-profit organizations, operating in multiple districts,” read the release. 

Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by 17th August 2022. Counter comments, if any, may be submitted by 31st August 2022.