MUMBAI: Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry has approved around 100 community radio stations but yet they are facing delay in allocation of frequencies. Wireless Planning and Coordination(WPC), under the department of telecommunication holds the power to allocate frequencies and renew the licenses of the existing CR stations but they have failed in delivering it for the past one year.
Speaking with Radioandmusic.com, Community Radio Association vice president NA Shah Ansari said, “From the past one year and half, WPC have not issued licenses in spite of community radio stations having paid their fees. I am sure many CR stations are operating without a documented license. WPC is the only autonomous body who can issue it.”
“I&B has written letters asking them to speed up the renewal of the license but WPC seems less bothered about it. CR is under a five year agreement with I&B but it is the duty of WPC to allocate the frequency and renew the CR license every year,” he added.
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Providing another perspective and reason of delay, Mumbai University based Radio MUST head Pankaj Athavale said, “This delay by WPC could be attributed to change in power(changes in position) and the need to keep away from any controversy as the 2G scam is still making waves. Yet another reason for the delay is the undercurrent of frequency allocation of Phase III auctions.”
Athavale further added, “Only two frequencies are there for CR so they don’t need to take too long to allocate frequency. I&B are hopeful to boost more CR stations so they are trying different solutions. I&B ministry asked the WPC to handover the procedure so they could do the needed paperwork but still WPC seems to show no interest.”
However, Ansari noted that maximum complaints have been received from southern India. He said, “There have been complaints from many CR stations across India but Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu tops as they have many CR stations so obviously many complaints have been coming from these states.”
The future of CR stations is suggested to be in single window clearance which will make launching CR stations much more easier and will make it sustainable with government-aided revenue through adverts. “We are moving rapidly towards single window clearance. Earlier, it used to take more than one year to acquire CR stations licenses and now within one year you can work towards setting-up a CR station,” said Athavale.
