I attended the 2nd and final day of the consultation in Ahmedabad, organised by
CEMCA with the help of a local NGO, and involving MIB and other government
officials.
I understand the first day had some heavyweights too from the ministry, and
perhaps that was useful.
The participants were largely from NGOs from different parts of the country, as
well as some others. Several seemed to be from Gujarat itself. My guess is that
CEMCA will post a report on its own website, but let me give some impressions.
To my surprise (but only because there seemed to be a lot of Gujaratis present,
and I know how much work has been done by Drishti Media, KMVS and SEWA, among
others, to spread awareness, and to run community media against all odds), the
main purpose of the seminar was in fact spreading awareness, and this is
clearly still a critical need. Hardly anyone there had any idea of how 1) CR
needs to work and 2) how easy it is to achieve the nuts and bolts.
Against this, the government officials seem to live in a vacuum, finding it
very hard to accept either that the rules and regulations are forbiddingly
difficult, or that this difficulty has discouraged ordinary people from getting
involved. CEMCA announced more than once that they offer guidance and
assistance to navigate through the application process. The MIB officials
implied that many aspects of the procedure can be skimmed, and I asked if this
is so, why they can't simply skip these steps entirely. I found a deep
reluctance (among them) to accept that the officials have any role to play on
the creation of the policy or its ongoing amendment ('nimby', or 'sep'
phenomenon).
On the positive side, Sreedher said that as per his information, the situation
re pending applications was due for a change soon, and I am happy to see from
today's newspapers that 107 applications have been cleared at a shot. I hope
Sajan can get us more information on what this comprises and its implications.
The Dy Wireless Adviser clarified that there is no hard and fast rule about
type approval of or manufacturing of wireless transmitters. Anyone wishing to
use any particular equipment can apply for its approval. This was in response
to my appeal that the standards for transmission equipment be publicised, in
order to facilitate the DIY construction of transmiters at the village level.
There was a thorny question about frequency allocation and cost of spectrum. It
seems that one must first get the allocation, from which date the meter starts
ticking, before SACFA and GOPA and any other clearances. This has already seen
one unfortunate situation, where an NGO in Bangalore is 'supposed' to pay for 3
years 'squatting' on an allocation, simply because they could not get the other
approvals.
I asked for a couple of things: whether the actual frequency allocation could
be held over until the last approval is received, then the organisation is in a
position to go ahead and order the equipment. Secondly, whether the Minsitry
can publish a frequency map of the country, showing exactly where frequencies
are being used. The Adviser said that such a table (not a map) is already
published, which was news to me, and I will certainly try to find it - Sajan,
again, your skills in negotiating the thicket of online public information
would be very helpful.
However, frequencies from 100 to 108 MHz are set aside for the 'public'
channels, thus letting us know two things: one is that CR is not regarded as a
'public' service, and AIR/PB are not obliged to pay for frequencies they do not
use (for which I am glad, or they would be totally bankrupt by now, since they
only have around 180 stations in diverse parts of the country, and certainly do
not use their reserved frequencies in much of the nation's territory).
There is one 'ceremony' where the final document needs to be signed in Delhi.
The 'responsible' person needs to travel to Delhi in person to do this. I
questioned the need, and the answer was that this is chicken and egg - if they
get more applications, then they will set up regional 'signing' centers. I
don't think this attitude needs any further comment, but as you all know, if
you do want one, I am willing to give it.
On the question of content management, they appealed for CR stations to send
content with translations, when required (records have to be kept for 3 months,
and archives sent to Delhi if a query is raised). I asked for devolving the
'post-broadcast' monitoring job down to the regional and sub-regional level,
but as far as I could gather, this calls for an approval level higher than the
people present could assure.
On the whole, the session was reasonably positive, all things considered
(although my brief report has tended to focus on continuing issues). Sreedher
asked for and got several organisations present to tender immediate
'expressions of interest' in starting CR, and these were handed over to the
Ministry formally. I think a total of 13 or 14 letters were handed over.
I also appealed to the officials to take suggestions made at the session as 'on
record', and I sincerely hope they will do so, rather than waiting for Sreedher
to prepare a 'written' submission on the proceedings.
Some people present thanked me for my own presentation, and I can send the file
to anyone who would like to receive it. My subject was Inclusive Media, and it
covers the gamut from content to technology, to the persons who must
participate, and critically, the need to look for the most optimal solutions,
in terms of energy, cost and wastage.
Vickram
http://communicall.wordpress.com
http://vvcrishna.wordpress.com
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