Parliament panel asks I&B ministry to consider separate regulator for broadcasting

A parliamentary panel has asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to evaluate the need to have a separate regulator for broadcasting sector, keeping in view its “tremendous growth”. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) at present acts as the watchdog for broadcasting as well as telecom sectors. The panel also asked the information and broadcasting ministry to put in place a monitoring mechanism with an aim to ensure digitisation of cable television in the country. It also recommended the ministry to carry out an Impact Assessment study of cable TV digitisation so that a clear picture emerges as to how far digitisation has actually been able to achieve its objectives.