MUMBAI: The Government is committed to expansion of FM radio through the Phase III auctions, said I&B Ministry MoS Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore. During a function organised in New Delhi He also stated that the Government wants to provide better quality transmission for radio.

He added that steps were being taken to encourage and strengthen Community Radio (CR) Movement as it empowers local communities by encouraging local languages and local talent and information dissemination.

His comment comes at the time when Red FM is facing a challenge to participate in the auctions, because the Union Ministry did not grant the network security clearance. Another radio network, which faced initial trouble, was Radio Mirchi, operated by ENIL’s (Entertainment Network India Limited). After being rejected on a few occasions, the network managed to acquire only four of TVTN’s (Oye FM) seven radio stations.

The Minister added that the Government was making efforts to replace shortwave and Medium wave with FM broadcasts throughout the country.

He further added that Radio has been producing news that is neural, balanced and fair. He praised the quality of the news of the Public Broadcaster and said that it is the best medium for news as well as entertainment.

Rathore stated this during the inauguration of the symposium on ‘Naye Bharat Ki Rachna Aur Prasaaran Maadhyam’, on the occasion of Indian Broadcasting Day organised by Prasar Bharati.