Srinagar: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended a reduced authorization fee for radio broadcasting services in Jammu and Kashmir, as it proposed a phased increase under its new framework aligned with the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
In its latest recommendations, as the news agency KNO, TRAI has suggested that radio broadcasters in J&K, along with those in the Northeast and island territories, pay only 2 percent of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) for the first three years. After this period, the fee will rise to 4 percent of AGR, bringing it in line with charges applicable to other regions.
This recommendation as per details was aimed at easing the financial burden on service providers while encouraging the growth of radio broadcasting in J&K. In the meanwhile, TRAI also proposed removing mandatory co-location requirements for broadcasters by offering greater flexibility in operations.
Furthermore, the regulator has advised delinking service authorizations for Terrestrial Radio Services from frequency assignments, with spectrum allocation for FM radio to be handled separately through auction process.
“These changes fall under the new service authorization framework, replacing the outdated Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. Existing license holders will have the option to migrate voluntarily to the new regime without any processing or entry fees,” the details read.
TRAI expects these measures to boost the ease of doing business and drive technological advancements in the sector. The full set of recommendations is available on TRAI’s official website. (With inputs from KNO)
