The Hindu Business Line : Jaipal Reddy favours cess to support Prasar Bharati

FAVOURING a consensus approach to create a statutory authority to serve as an independent regulator for convergence or the broadcasting sector, levying cess to support Prasar Bharati Corporationand harnessing the power of the radio are among the top agenda of the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr S. Jaipal Reddy. A Rs 250-crore project to digitise Indian culture and heritage is also on the anvil.

Addressing newspersons here today, the I&B Minister said, "Currently, the regulation of the broadcasting sector is the job of the I&B Minister. I personally feel that the broadcasting minister should not be sitting as a judge on issues relating to this sector. We need an independent regulator like we have TRAI for telecom related issues. While recently some matters relating to the Conditional Access System and radio broadcasting (FM) were referred to TRAI, I believe issues relating to the broadcasting sector need to be addressed by an independent regulator. This could either be in the form of one addressing the convergence sector or simply a broadcasting regulator, whatever we chose to adopt."

Mr Reddy said that he favoured cess on products and services "as such a move was necessary to strengthen the financial autonomy of Prasar Bharati.

Unless we make the corporation financially viable, there is no meaning in its functional autonomy."

"Private channels have proliferated and there are indications that the number is set to grow. Therefore, if people have grievances, they need to look up to a statutory independent authority who addresses their grievances, be it relating to the content or any other regulatory issue.

"With regard to the radio, its power is underestimated. The radio has the power to communicate even to the remotest area without much investments and we should explore ways to further reach out this to the masses.

While there are signs that reflect some changes in the entertainment aspect of radio, this could possibly cover other areas as well," he said.

Commenting on the portfolio of culture, Mr Reddy said the Union Government was considering an ambitious Rs 250-crore project to digitise the culture and history of our 5,000-year-old civilisation. This would enable people to access information online.