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Broadcasting Bill ‘after consultations’

NEW DELHI: Though the Government was keen to introduce the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, 2007 in the monsoon session of Parliament, the draft legislation would be tabled only after further consultations with broadcasters.

Briefing mediapersons here on the schedule for the forthcoming session, Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said on Tuesday that he would convene a meeting of broadcasters in the first week of the session to address their concerns.

Asked whether this meant that it would be introduced in the upcoming session itself, he said: “We are keen that it is introduced this session, but it would depend on the deliberations.”

The last round of deliberations with the broadcasters was held over a fortnight ago by Information and Broadcasting secretary Asha Swaroop. At that meeting, the broadcasters clearly spelt out their opposition to cross-media restrictions provided for in the proposed legislation, stating that these would stunt growth of the sector.

The broadcasters as well as civil society organisations and the public were then given time till August 5 to send in their views but many of the stake-holders have not submitted their comments.

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Broadcasting Bill ‘after consultations’

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