ASSOCHAM urges Govt to reconsider Broadcast Bill

New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) After the broadcasters' bodies, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) today cautioned the Government against rushing through the proposed Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill in its present form.

It expressed strong reservations against the restrictions on cross-media ownership, and apprehensions about the independence of the proposed Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India(BRAI).

ASSOCHAM said Content Code was also a very comlicated issue and should be relooked.

In a representation to the Government, it suggested that BRAI should not be formed on the pattern of TRAI as both the sectors were different in nature and the broadcast authority should have representation from chambers, broadcasters, cable operators consumer groups, lawyers, retd judges apart from ministers.

''The Chamber believes that the proposed Bill is a forward looking legislation which needs to be debated extensively across various stake holders and sections of society before any conclusions are drawn by the government in implementing the same,'' the letter to the Government said.

ASSOCHAM President Venugopal N Dhoot said there was a need to create a level playing field in the broadcasting sector and also to relook at the allotment of Prime Band to Public Broadcasters given the fact that Doordarshan competes directly with private broadcasters in earning revenues.

The government should consider defining of adult viewing hours and the need for the appropriate industries to broadcast their respective product advertisements in that time slot, it said.

He said a relook was needed at the Cross-Media Ownership Restrictions, given the tremendous misgivings of corporate India regarding the move.

According to the industry body, it should be obligatory upon central government to consult BRAI before formulating and prescribing any policy for the broadcasting sector, rather than framing policy directly and having the BRAI as the implementing authority.

BRAI should also examine the content code, the relevant rules, guidelines and regulations in detail and lay down a suitable framework in consultation with industry experts and stakeholders and carry the responsibility of establishing self-regulatory norms and standards.

The provision to direct service provider to stop broadcasting its service or any programme without a reasonable notice and without any reasons could be perceived to be arbitrary and open to misuse. Hence reasonable opportunity of being heard is required to be provided to the BSP before exercising its powers, felt the Chamber.

The same process should be followed for all cases of search, seizure and confiscation of the equipment.

Mr Dhoot said the Content code needed to be extensively debated, before finalisation and its finalisation should be left solely to the BRAI. Various terms and adjectives have been used therein which are ambiguous, open to misinterpretation and judgement on the same could always be disputed, he said.

The Chamber called upon the government to harmonise the proposed bill with the requirements of the IT Act, 2000, in order to avoid underlying conflicts.

UNI