Govt to set up separate regulator for broadcast: DasMunsi

Kolkata, Apr 7 (UNI) The Centre is contemplating to bring an ''unparallel'' Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill and intends to set up the Broadcasting Regulatory Authority of India on the lines of TRAI in the field of broadcasting.

This view was expressed here today by Information and Broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi while inaugurating a national seminar on ''Broadcast Regulations: Future of Broadcasting in India'', organised by Media Information and Communication Centre of India and Centre for Media Research and Development Studies here in collaboration with UNESCO.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Das Munsi said the government was also considering to introduce another legislation on digitization to prevent piracy of films.

Speaking at length on the proposed Bill, Mr Das Munsi said it would start discussing with all stake holders in the next session of Parliament. ''The Indian Media would be the guiding principle for the preparation of the Bill,'' he said and outlined a detailed roadmap for the introduction of the proposed Bill.

Also addressing the seminar Nandini Sahai of the Media Information and Communication Centre of India said the Indian Penal code had sufficient powers to ''rein in the irresponsible''. ''The proposal to give powers to district authorities to act against channels could be misused to muzzle the Press'', she observed, while FES Senior Media Advisor called for open access to media outlets by all interested parties.

He also advocated a total transparency in revenue sharing deals regarding mandatory sports contents.

The two-day seminar is set to deliberate on issues like CAS, DTH, IPTV, Narrowcasting, Satellite and Community radio and other contemporary issues on broadcasting.

UNI