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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:355
ANSWERED ON:05.03.203
FM RADIO SERVICES
Ramasubbu Shri S.
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
(a) the details of FM radio stations functioning in the country, location-wise and phase-wise;
(b) whether the Government has made any assessment of the locations including tribal areas where FM radio service has not been
provided so far;
(c) ifso, the details thereof and the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to provide the said services across the country,
location-wise;
(d) the locations identified to provide FM radio services under the phase-lll policy;
(e) the time by which new FM radio stations under the said policy are likely to be made operational in the country, location-wise; and
(f) the mechanism to monitor the content of the said channels?
Answer
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI MANISH
TEWARI)
(a) Prasar Bharati has informed that presently AIR has 345 FM Transmitters functioning at 322 places in the country including tribal
areas. The State-wise details of the locations are given at Annexure-l.
In respect of Private FM Radio, there are 242 Private FM Radio Stations (including 2/ stations operationalised under Phase-l) that
are functioning in the country under the Policy for expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting services through private agencies (phase-ll).
Location-wise, details are given at Annexure-ll.
(b) Yes, Sir.
(c) As regards AIR, installation of 70 additional FM Transmitters has been taken up in the country including tribal areas under the
schemes approved during 77th Plan. The State-wise details of the locations are given at Annexure-lll.
FM expansion in the country including tribal areas is taken up in a phased manner depending upon availability of funds and inter-se
priority.
(d) & (e) The policy on expansion of FM Radio broadcasting services through private agencies (Phase-lll), was approved by the
Government on 7th July, 204. Phase-lll policy will result in coverage of all cities with a population of one lakh (as per 200/ census). In
addition, private FM radio channels will be set up in North East (NE) Region and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Island territories, in
border Towns even where the population is less than lakh. Under Phase-lll policy, 839 FM channels will be permitted in 294 cities
through e-auction, on the lines followed by Department of Telecommunication (DOT) in the auction of 3G & BWA spectrum, with the
approval of competent authority. State-wise and location-wise list of proposed private channels of Phase-lll are given at Annexure -IV.
(f) In order to monitor the content of Private FM radio broadcasters, clauses 3./3.2 of Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA)
provides for automatic loggers (in addition to preservation of recordings of broadcast material by individual broadcasters at their
studio centers), which have been installed by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), at each Common
Transmission Infrastructure location. Off air programmes broadcast by each private FM channel are stored in these loggers for 3
months. These stored programmes are checked on monthly basis for any violation by BECILL.