The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released Recommendations on ‘Framework for Service Authorisations for provision of Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023’.
The recommended authorisations for broadcasting services include those for Television Channel Broadcasting (Satellite-based/Ground-based), News Agency for Television Channel(s), Teleport/Teleport Hub, Uplinking of Live event/news/footage by Foreign Channel/News Agency, DTH Service, HITS Service, Terrestrial Radio Service, Community Radio Stations and Low Power Small Range Radio Service.
Some of the salient points of the recommendations are given below:
- Broadcasting service authorisations shall be granted under Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, in place of the extant practice of issuing license/permission under Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. Terms and conditions for service authorisations shall be notified as Rules under Section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
- Grant of service authorisation under Section 3(1)(a) should be in the form of an authorisation document containing essential details pertaining to the service. The format of the authorisation document has been recommended.
- The terms and conditions for ‘Grant of Service Authorisations’ have been harmonised for similar services and covers eligibility criteria, application process and other relevant details/information required by an applicant entity before applying for service authorisation.
- Migration of existing licensee/permission holder to new authorisation regime shall be voluntary, till the expiry of their license/permission. Further, no processing fee or entry fee will be required for migration, in case of broadcasting services. However, the validity period of the respective service authorisation should be from the effective date of migration to the authorisation regime, irrespective of the validity period of existing license/permission.
- Addition of new services, namely, ‘Ground-based Broadcasting of a Television Channel’ and ‘Low Power Small Range Radio Service’, based on earlier recommendations of the authority.