Himachal Pradesh gets first community radio station

MUMBAI: Hamara MSPICM 90.4 FM, Himachal Pradesh's first community radio - a venture floated by the M S Panwar Institute of Communication and Management (MSPICM) was launched in Solan district on Friday.

The station was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary of government of Himachal Pradesh Asha Swaroop. The community radio would cater to the area within 10 kilometers radius from the main station that has been installed at the institute.

Radio Bundelkhand hosts training sessions for CR stations

MUMBAI: Orchha based community radio, Radio Bundelkhand 90.4, an initiative by Development Alternatives, has organised a three day training programme from 3 to 5 March 2009 for CR stations.

A tool to empower communities, it has been hosted by Radio Bundelkhand in technical cooperation with UNESCO and its partner organization, Maraa - A Media Collective.

Sironj based CR station Kisanvani signs GOPA

MUMBAI: �Kisanvani 90.4', a community radio in Sironj, Madhya Pradesh an initiative by Delhi based NGO Indian Society for Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) has signed the GOPA (Grant of Permission Agreement) this week with the Information and Broadcasting ministry. The NGO has already brought the transmitter from BEL (Bharat Electronics) and has submitted relevant documents to obtain the WOL (Wireless Operating License).

A way ahead for community radio stations

MUMBAI: The third annual meet of the Community Radio Forum was organised on 14 February at Radio Bundelkhand, Orchha. Resolutions regarding forming a consortium for approaching advertisers, relocating the secretariat for Community Radio Forum, reserving 4 MHz of frequency for CRs and lifting the current ban on news were suggested during the meet.

CRF mulls forming consortium to approach ad agencies

MUMBAI: The Community Radio Forum is thinking of forming a consortium to approach ad agencies to collectively negotiate for ad rates for CRS operational in the country.

The third annual meet of the Community Radio Forum, a representative body for community radio broadcasters, was held at the offices of Radio Bundelkhand, an intiative of Development Alternatives at Orchha, Jhansi on 14 February.

IIT Kanpur to start CR station

NEW DELHI: Even as the government has permitted non-governmental organisations to set up community radio stations (CRS), it is working to clear the list of applicants in the field of education who have applied for licenses for establishing, maintaining and operating such stations.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, has signed an agreement with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for setting up a CRS at Media Technology Centre in its campus which is expected to be operational within three months.

Decks cleared for 40 CR stations, 90 applications pending

NEW DELHI: With the grant of permission for a community radio station at St Aloysius College in Mangalore, the number of such stations (CRS) in the country has gone up to 42, even as over 90 applications from non-governmental organisations and educational institutions are pending approval.

The St Aloysius College station is expected to be operational within three months, according to the Grant of Permission Agreement with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry 

St Aloysius college to launch CR in Mangalore

MUMBAI: Mangalore based college St Aloysius will shortly launch its community radio, �Sarang' - celebrating colours of life.

The college representatives signed their GOPA (Grant of Permission Agreement) last week in Delhi with the Information and Broadcasting ministry. The GOPA agreement allows the institute to purchase a transmitter and the college has submitted relevant documents to obtain the WOL (Wireless Operating License).

Dhan Foundation to operate CR station in Nagapattinam, TN

NEW DELHI: The Maduari based non government organisation (NGO), Dham Foundation has been permitted to establish, maintain and operate a community radio station at Vizhunthamavad village, Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The CR station, which is expected to be operational within three months as per the agreement, will be called Kalanjiam community radio station.

Gurgaon to have its own community radio

MUMBAI: Gurgaon based NGO, TRF (The Restoring Force) would be soon launching its community radio in Udyog Vihar, villages of Garhi Harsaru, Dhankot and adjoining areas. TRF had already been allotted frequency of 107.8 MHz by the Information and Broadcasting ministry. The NGO had applied for a radio license in the start of last year and received the Letter of Intent from I & B ministry in August 2008.