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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The Government of India is working to ensure
4000<BR>Community Radio stations are operational in the next three years<BR>Ms.
Ambika Soni - Information and Broadcasting Minister</SPAN></P></FONT></o:p>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">NEW DELHI,
India: The government is working to ensure that at least 4000 Community Radio
stations are operational in the next three years, Information and Broadcasting
minister Ambika Soni said on Friday, reiterating that community radio reaches
people at the macro level to understand and resolve their problems.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><BR>She also
announced that the government was in the process of finalizing the FM Radio
Phase III policy soon. She said this was being done "with a view to incentives
the introduction of FM radio services in the North Eastern States, Jammu and
Kashmir, and island territories, and to further liberalise the regulatory
framework to provide for greater diversity of content and bring down operational
costs".</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><BR>Inaugurating the annual BES
Expo 2010 organized by the Broadcast Engineers Society (India), she said
broadcast engineers must play a crucial role in guiding the best possible
options in the carriage of the content to the <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>public, acknowledging that technology is
clearly a growth driver for many <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>an
innovation in Broadcast sector. She also urged broadcasters to ensure that
fruits of new technology actually reach the consumer.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><BR>The
theme of 16th International Conference and Exhibition on Terrestrial and
Satellite Broadcasting is 'Broadcasters and new Media Technologies' and it will
conclude on 31 January.<BR><BR>Referring to the role of the Government, she said
the endeavour of her ministry is to ensure that policy framework and business
models are in sync to cater to the consumer interest. "We are guided by the
thought that technology neutral approach to policies is the appropriate way.
Convergence in technology has to fast become a reality."</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><BR>The
minister also announced that serious thought was being given to devise suitable
policies for mobile television. She emphasized that the government was committed
to technological improvement/digitalization of the DD network to improve the
viewing experience.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><BR>As the
official broadcaster for telecast of the Commonwealth Games 2010, it would
ensure High Definition Television is in place. She added that <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>digitalization of the Broadcasting
Services of Doordarshan/All India Radio <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and Cable Services is one of the key
thrust areas identified by the Ministry because of the "advantages digital mode
offers in terms of <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>efficient
utilization of available spectrum, better quality of picture and services,
various interactive and niche services and transparency above all."</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><BR>She
noted that the trend worldwide has been to fix sunset dates for complete switch
off of analogue. For more info: <B>http://ow.ly/12dMQ<o:p></o:p></B></P></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR>Bazlu<BR>_______________________<BR>AHM. Bazlur
Rahman-S21BR<BR>Chief Executive Officer<BR>Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and
Communication(BNNRC)<BR>&<BR>Member, Strategy Council<BR>UN-Global Alliance
for ICT and Development (UN GAID)<BR> <BR>House: 13/1, Road:2, Shaymoli,
Dhaka-1207 <BR>Post Box: 5095, Dhaka 1205 Bangladesh<BR> <BR>Phone:
88-02-9130750, 88-02-9138501<BR>01711881647 Fax:
88-02-9138501-105<BR> <BR>E-mail: <A
href="mailto:ceo@bnnrc.net">ceo@bnnrc.net</A>, <A
href="mailto:bnnrc@bd.drik.net">bnnrc@bd.drik.net</A><BR><A
href="http://www.bnnrc.net">www.bnnrc.net</A><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>