New Delhi: The Government on Monday said it is
examining the draft of the proposed Broadcasting Service
Regulation Bill aimed at setting up an independent
broadcasting regulatory authority to monitor programme content
on television.
"Regulation and monitoring of content is one of the major
functions required to be performed by the proposed regulator,"
I&B Minister of State C M Jatua said replying to a question in
the Rajya Sabha on whether there is any proposal to enact a
legislation for monitoring of visual media.
In a written reply, the Minister said the draft of the
proposed regulation Bill is being examined in consultation
with various stakeholders including the state governments.
The proposed regulator will also be empowered to issue
regulations regarding places, types and quantity of equipment
to be provided by the service providers free of cost, he said.
The Minister further stated no guidelines have been
issued for TV channels about programmes shown.
The News Broadcasters Association has prepared their
code of ethics and broadcasting standards and issued
guidelines in the aftermath of the terror strike in Mumbai
about telecast of news during emergency, he said.
Bureau Report
