Context:

• The Information & Broadcasting Ministry released the draft Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, 2023.

Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill – Key Highlights

• The Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill aims to bring a consolidated legal framework for the broadcasting sector and extend it to OTT content, digital news, and current affairs as well.

Key features of the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, 2023:

• Single legislative framework: The Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill provides regulatory provisions for various broadcasting services under a single legislative framework. 
  • It seeks to replace the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995 and other policy guidelines currently governing the broadcasting sector in India.
• Expansion of regulatory ambit: The Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill extends its regulatory purview to encompass broadcasting OTT content, digital news and, current affairs currently regulated through the IT Act, 2000. 
  • It also includes provisions for emerging broadcasting technologies.
• Comprehensive definitions: It provides definitions for contemporary broadcasting terms along with other important technical terms to be defined in the statute for the first time.
• Advisory bodies: It introduces ‘Content evaluation committees’ for self-regulation and ‘Broadcast Advisory Council’ to “advise the central government on programme code and advertisement code violations.
• Penalties: It provides statutory penalties like advisory, warning, censure, or monetary penalties, for operators and broadcasters. 
  • Provision for imprisonment and/or fines is also there, but only for very serious offences, such as obtaining registration with a false affidavit.
  • Monetary penalties and fines are linked to the financial capacity of the entity, taking into account their investment and turnover to ensure fairness and equity.
• Inclusive and accessible: It promotes the use of subtitles, audio descriptors, and sign language. The Bill has a provision for appointing a Disability Grievance officer.
• Infrastructure sharing: It also has provisions for infrastructure sharing among broadcasting network operators and carriage of platform services. 
• Right of Way: The Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill “streamlines the ‘Right of Way’ section to address relocation and alterations more efficiently, and establishes a structured dispute resolution mechanism.

Significance

• Revamping the broadcasting sector: It modernizes the broadcasting sector’s regulatory framework, replacing outdated Acts, Rules, and Guidelines with a unified, future-focused approach.
• Embracing the digital revolution: It adapts to the dynamic world of OTT, Digital Media, DTH, and more, promoting technological advancement and service evolution.

News Source: Indian Express