NEW DELHI, May 14: Despite considerable lobbying by the country's space establishment, the Broadcasting Bill, when it is introduced in Parliament on Friday, will not demand that all foreign networks use only Indian satellites for broadcasting. Neither will it insist that all foreign networks have to register with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to downlink.

However, Information and Broadcasting Ministry officials say that when foreign satellite networks apply for renewal, first preference will be given to use of Indian satellites, but only when spare capacity is available.

On Tuesday, a Zee TV associate, Taleem Research Foundation, organised a day-long seminar in the Capital, where the country's top scientists reiterated the demand for primacy of Indian satellites. The meeting was chaired by Zee TV promoter Subhash Chandra Goel and among those who attended were Minister of State for Planning and Programme Y K Alagh and ISRO Chairman K Kasturirangan.

The Broadcasting Bill, which will make uplinking from India mandatory for foreign networks, will also not allow for foreign equity in terrestrial broadcasting. I&B Ministry officials, however, believe the Left parties will still have reservations on opening up terrestrial television to private (Indian) broadcasters.

Satellite television licences will be given to all foreign networks without bidding and networks with existing operations outside India will be given time to shift their earth stations to India, which will be mandatory.

Direct-To-Home licences will be for the entire country and will be auctioned to not less than two operators.

Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy who was met by US Ambassador Frank Wisner on Monday and British High Commissioner Sir David Gore-Booth on Tuesday reiterated to both that the Bill was not sacrosanct and that he had left it for Parliament to decide upon the matter.

The two made the point that representative from foreign networks should be allowed to air their views before the appropriate Parliamentary committee. The Bill has also been considerate to existing cable operators. It provides that existing cable operators registered under the Cable Network Regulation Act, 1995, will be permitted to continue their business. The franchises of an area, which could or could not be co-terminus with a telecom circle, will be additional players (and only after auctioning). This facility, according to the Bill, will not be extended to those with more than 5,000 households.

Changes in the new broadcasting bill

*DTH licenses to be auctioned for entire country

Terrestrial broadcasting not to be open to foreign equity

Foreign satellite networks to be given one year or more to fulfill existing commitments in countries where they are currently uplinked from

Non-commercial organisations such as NGOs to be given licenses for non-commercial (restricted) broadcasting

Educational institutions such as universities to be given licenses for broadcasting in their respective (restricted) areas to facilitate better education and communication on the basis of either a restricted bid or no bid at all.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.