NEWS: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) àhas released draft rules to bring India’s broadcasting services under a unified regulatory framework governed by the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

Key Highlights of the Draft Rules

• Unified Frameworkà The new rules will consolidate six existing policy frameworks including Satellite TV Channels, DTH, Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS), Private & Community Radio Stations and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Services into one harmonized rulebook.
• Exempted Entitiesà Parliament of India and Prasar Bharati.
• Strict Oversight & Compliance:
• Set License Durations:
  • 10 years for TV channels, teleports, and community radio;
  • 15 years for private FM radio;
  • 20 years for TV distribution services like DTH and HITS.
• Mandatory Public Contentà Private TV channels (for 30 minutes) and Private FM radio stations (for 1 hour with 20% local content) must broadcast public-interest programming daily on themes of national importance, such as education, agriculture, etc.
• Broadcasters are ineligible if they commit more than five rule violations.
• Require prior government approval, continuous security clearances, and a 30-day notice for any shifts in shareholding or FDI.
• Breaches risk civil penalties, encashment of bank guarantees, or the suspension and revocation of the authorization.

The Telecommunications Act, 2023

Purpose: Replaces archaic colonial-era laws, including the 1885 Indian Telegraph Act.

Key Features of the Act

• Right of Way (RoW)à Establishes a non-discriminatory framework that legally separates telecom infrastructure from the property it sits on.
• Mandates strict standards for telecom services and network security.
• Innovation & Fundingà Uses the Universal Service Obligation Fund for R&D and creates "Regulatory Sandboxes" to test new tech.
• User Protectionà Fights spam and sets up formal grievance redressal systems.