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New Delhi:
Telecom and broadcasting sector regulator Trai has recommended allowing private FM radio broadcasters to air programs based on news and current affairs. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in recommendations submitted to the government on Tuesday, said that private FM channels should be allowed to broadcast news and current affairs for 10 minutes every hour.
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According to TRAI, the same program related codes and instructions will apply to these private FM channels as applicable to All India Radio in relation to news.
Along with this TRAI has also recommended to keep FM radio related features and functions active in all mobile phone devices. The regulator said, “The mobile phone will be equipped with an FM radio receiver and will not need to be switched on or off”.
The authority said that only four per cent of the total revenue of an FM radio channel for a financial year should be taken as license fee. Goods and Services Tax (GST) should not be charged separately on this.
Apart from this, TRAI asked the government to take steps to provide relief to FM radio broadcasters who are facing challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.