Re: Is India a model Democracy?

[Npsingh123@aol.com]

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Another important issue is that the steep price which the government
charges
to license FM channels and broadcasting frequencies percludes small
producers
from owning their stations. Broadcast media therefore remains in the
firm
grip of few big players in India. I am not sure how costly it is to own
frequencies in the Europe and America. But it is truly amazing how many
independent small Indian radio stations have mushroomed in Canada and
Britain. Any thoughts why same cannot happen in India.

Same goes for the print media. It appears that excessive regulation of
newsprint import and production smothers the voice of all but the
biggest
newspapers owned by big business houses.

True freedom of expression demands government policy that will actively
encourage small local radio stations and small newspapers, not by doling
out
government subsidy, nor by telling radio stations what they should or
should
not broadcast, but by removing excessive regulation and making licenses
more
affordable for small players.



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