The issue of creation of a dedicated broadcast sector regulator, which will look at content regulation of both public and private television channels, is back on the government?s agenda.
The proposed idea of setting up of an independent broadcast sector regulator will take up all issues relating to content and carriage of channels, drafting regulations for the unregulated internet medium, too.
Sources said it will be headed by a panel of eminent people, both from within and outside the industry. This panel will work closely with the government and members of Parliament to select its chief executive officer and other key positions.
The government is set to deliberate the matter with top industry representatives in the next few days, government sources said.
The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry has already looked into the working of various existing regulators across sectors like petroleum, aviation, health, drugs, banking and capital markets. The government has also prepared a Cabinet note for inter-ministerial consultation and feedback for setting up an independent broadcast sector regulator, sources said.
?This time around, the government is keen to build consensus and put across its logic and reasoning. Opposition for the sake of opposition will not hold water. The proposal includes the continued functioning of all self-regulating bodies but under the proposed regulator. Creation of regulator is not equal to controlling the media and that is what will be deliberated with the industry in next couple of weeks,? a senior government official said.
However, various media firms in the country ? both in print and television ? are opposed to any regulator or regulations terming the move as an infringement on the ?freedom of press?. But some large media groups support the move.
?It is essential to have a broadcast sector regulator which deals with content, carriage, tariff and other related issues of the sector. Currently, the issue of carriage and tariff is under the purview of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) which is going slow on several key issues facing the broadcast and cable sector,? said a senior executive of a leading media firm.
Government officials argue that bodies like Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States and the Office of Communications (Ofcom) in the UK are the perfect example of independent regulators for the broadcasting and communications sector that works closely with the government.
The move also comes against the backdrop of a demand for setting up a single Media Council instead of the current Press Council of India, which is empowered to look at only issues pertaining to the print industry.
It should be noted that in past several information and broadcasting ministers, including PR Dasmunsi and Jaipal Reddy, attempted to bring in a broadcast bill which talked about setting up of a Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India, but could not go through in Parliament due to opposition from various quarters, including prominent media houses.