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Govt invites public view on Broadcasting Bill

The joint select committee of Parliament has invited the views of the general public and media experts on the controversial but long-awaited Broadcasting Bill.

However, before you shoot off your response read former Telecom Commission chairman N Vittal's analysis of the bill.

The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha or the lower house of the Parliament by Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy on May 16.

The joint select committee, which has invited public reaction, is chaired by the Congress party's senior politician, Sharad Pawar, and comprises 20 members of the Lok Sabha and 10 of the Rajya Sabha. It had met for three days recently.

Those keen on sending in their opinion are to mail five copies of it to:

Shri C S Joon,
Under Secretary,
Lok Sabha Secretariat,
Cabin B-1 (Basement).
Parliament House Annexe.
New Delhi. India.
PIN - 1100 001.

The last day to submit your memorandum is July 7. Your views would become a part of the records of the committee 'and would be treated as strictly confidential and would not be circulated by anyone as such an act would constitute a breach of privilege of the committee', a newspaper advertisement said.

It also informed that 'Those who are desirous of giving oral evidence before the committee, besides sending memoranda, are requested to intimate to this effect to the Lok Sabha Secretariat for consideration of the committee.'

Apart from deciding to seek more time to submit their report, the committee also decided to hear in person what cable operators, representatives of private Indian and foreign satellite television channels, and others interested in the bill have to say.

The bill envisages the setting up of a Broadcasting Authority of India to regulate the airwaves. This is expected to be done by issuing licenses to work the bandwidth.

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