Lok Sabha Question No. 1006 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-21
Subject: Coverage under FM Radio Services
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: SHYAMA CHARAN GUPTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1006 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2017

## COVERAGE UNDER FM RADIO SERVICES 1006. SHRI SHYAMA CHARAN GUPTA

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether many district headquarters/ small towns/ villages of the country are still to be covered under FM radio services;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  these  areas  are  likely  to  be covered under FM Radio services, State/ UT - wise;
- (c) the criteria fixed for selection of cities/towns for granting FM Radio Licences; and
- (d) whether the Government is considering to issue licences for setting up of more private FM Radio stations in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING {COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}

(a) to (d)   Presently AIR FM Service is being broadcast from 474 FM transmitters at 439 locations across the country including 238 nos. of 100 W FM relay transmitters for localized coverage up to 10 kms. distance. 174 more FM transmitters have also been approved under 12 th Plan. However, as per the information furnished by Prasar Bharati more than 260 district headquarters of the country are yet to be covered by FM signal of AIR. For providing FM coverage to the entire country, huge amount of funds and resources (land, building manpower etc.) are required. This can be carried out in a phased manner as per funds made available by the Government.

In addition to this, the policy for expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting services through Private Agencies (Phase - III), was approved by the Cabinet on 7 th July, 2011 where in 839 FM channels are permitted in 294 cities through e-auction. It will result in coverage of all cities with a population of above one lakh (as per 2001 census) unless they are getting covered by any neighboring city. In addition, 11 cities in border areas of Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern region are also included even though they are having less than one lakh population.

So far auctions have been conducted with the following results:

| Number of cities/channels put to Auction   | Number of cities/channels put to Auction   | Number of cities/channels put to Auction   | No. of Cities/Channels Sold   | No. of Cities/Channels Sold   |
|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|                                            | Cities                                     | Channels                                   | Cities                        | Channels                      |
| Batch I                                    | 69                                         | 135                                        | 56                            | 97                            |
| Batch II                                   | 92                                         | 266                                        | 48                            | 66                            |

The licenses can be issued only after the auction of remaining channels in subsequent batches of FM Phase III.