Information Society Watch

September 19, 2007, The Economic Times

The Indian government has proposed to do away with the ban on reporting of news stories by commercial radio stations. This move is a welcome one, and comes at a time when the government is moving towards freeing the airwaves (e.g. allowing setting up of community radio stations). As per the current regulations, no commercial or community radio stations are allowed to broadcast news stories, that right is the monopoly of the government radio station All India Radio (AIR). One hopes that in addition to allowing private radio stations to broadcast news, the government will extend this to community radio stations and local news as well.

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