Broadcast and telecom regulator TRAI yesterday announced a series of initiatives, including a consuktation paper on FM radio and extending the deadline for submission in another discussion paper on ‘Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing, Spectrum Sharing and Spectrum Leasing’.

The FM radio issue was referred to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) as the government wanted to review the linkages to non-refundable one time entry fee (NOTEF) in the formula for annual fee as prescribed in the FM Ph-Ill Policy Guidelines dated July 25, 2011.

Other issues under consultation also include exploring extending the existing FM license period of 15 years by three years, allowing private FM radio channels to broadcast independent news bulletins and availability of FM radio receivers in mobile handsets.

In the background paper, TRAI has enumerated some of the concessions handed out by governments in other countries to the FM radio sector to cope with financial losses owing to COVID-19.

For example, the paper said, “The Government of Canada also provided additional relief to eligible television and radio stations by waiving broadcasting license fees in 2020-21, which are collected annually by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. The relief did not include cable, satellite and IPTV providers (also known as broadcasting distribution undertakings) as their revenues are not as dependent on advertising.

“Beneficiaries from this measure were required to meet certain conditions, including confirming a minimum 25 percent reduction of revenues due to the pandemic, and continuing to operate in compliance with their regulatory obligations regarding Canadian content for at least two years.”

In an another advisory, TRAI said keeping in view the requests of stakeholders for extension of time for submission of comments, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of written comments and counter comments up to 03.03.2023 and 17.03.2023, respectively for the paper on ‘Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing, Spectrum Sharing and Spectrum Leasing’.

Meanwhile, TRAI also floated a consultation paper on ‘Introduction of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider (DCIP) Authorization under Unified License’