In May 2022, the ministry of information and broadcasting had requested Trai to provide its recommendations on 2 key issues. The first issue is removing the linkage to non-refundable one-time entry fee (NOTEF) in the formula for annual fees and the second issue is with regards to extending the existing FM licence period of 15 years by three years.
As per the FM radio policy guidelines, permission holders must pay an annual licence fee of 4% of the gross revenue of their FM radio channel for the financial year or 2.5% of NOTEF for the concerned city, whichever is higher. Further, there is no provision in FM Radio Phase III policy guidelines for extension of permission granted to an FM radio broadcaster.
The Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI) has requested extension of the existing FM permission period by three years due to impact of Covid-19 in four out of the 15-year licence period.
After receiving the MIB reference, the regulator held a meeting in August 2022 with the representatives of AROI. The FM radio operators requested Trai to permit private FM radio channels to broadcast independent news bulletins and make FM radio receivers available on mobile handsets. Further, private FM radio broadcasters are allowed to carry the news bulletins of All India Radio (AIR) only and without any alteration. Radio stations have also been barred from carrying any other news and current affairs programmes.
While noting that many countries have made it mandatory for mobile handsets to have radio tuners, Trai pointed out that the issue of the availability of FM radio receivers and appropriate mobile apps for the same entails both hardware and software-related issues.
The regulator stated that stakeholders can submit written comments on the consultation paper by March 9. Counter comments can be submitted by March 23.According to Trai’s Performance Indicator Report (PIR) for July-September 2022, there were 388 operational private FM radio channels in 113 cities operated by 36 private FM Radio operators.
