Ministry Officials Uncertain On Broadcast Bill Likely To Be Held Up

Sushma Swaraj's exit from the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry is likely to delay several policy initiatives, feels the broadcasting industry.

The first casualty of BJP's move to shift Swaraj out as Delhi Chief Minister on Saturday may be the proposed Broadcasting Bill, ministry officials said. Swaraj had been saying that it would be introduced in the winter session of Parliament.

According to them, Prasar Bharati appointments were also likely to be delayed. The three-member Prasar Bharati selection committee has asked for more time for shortlisting names for the posts of chairman, chief executive and members in charge of finance and personnel to fill vacancies following the exit of incumbents on other assignments.

Though the government does not have a direct bearing on the selection of Prasar Bharati chairman, chief executive and other members, Swaraj's role cannot be undermined as she took active interest in expediting the matter, the officials said.

While the BJP is backing journalist MV Kamath for the chairman's post, journalist-turned-politician Inderjeet's name is doing the rounds for the CEO's job.

The industry, too, is worried that the issues that needed to be ironed out before the Broadcast Bill could be presented to Parliament may now be put on the backburner.

"Swaraj was in the process of taking important decisions regarding the cable industry for incorporation in the Bill, but now her replacement, if any, will take that much more time to understand the nuances," a top cable TV operator said. Foreign broadcasters who were expecting to get permission to uplink from India later this year or in early 1999 will now have to wait.

Swaraj had initiated a process which envisaged private Indian broadcasters with up to 20 per cent foreign equity were to be allowed to uplink from India in the first phase.

The second phase entailed allowing broadcasters to set up uplinking infrastructure, while the third phase was to give all broadcasters, foreign and Indian, permission to uplink from India. The cabinet had cleared the first phase.

A senior executive of a foreign broadcasting company lauded Swaraj for her quick decisions and said it was a healthy sign in the fast-changing broadcasting scenario.

"The minister of state for I&B cannot have the kind of weight that Swaraj had in the cabinet. Unless a minister of cabinet rank is given additional charge of the ministry, things will remain uncertain," the executive added.

As Swaraj also looked after the telecommunications ministry, her exit may affect the plans of media baron Subhash Chandra to enter the telecom sector through a mobile satellite telephony project may get affected, industry sources said.

Chandra's $800-million satellite telephony project had just begun to look up. Incidentally, the government had okayed a Chandra-owned Indian company's proposal to own satellites for this venture while Swaraj held dual charge of I&B and telecom ministries.

Swaraj was in the process of taking other policy decisions like foreign investments in advertising agencies, revamping of NFDC and DAVP.

"But these have to wait till the assembly elections," ministry officials said.