In recommendations that were submitted today, TRAI said that not just governments but political bodies should also not be allowed to enter the broadcasting sector.
I&B secretary Uday Kumar Varma had on November 30th written to TRAI seeking recommendations on whether state or central governments or entities on which they have control could be allowed to enter broadcasting or distribution of channels.
In reply to Varma's letter, TRAI's secretary in-charge Sudhir Gupta said that central government ministries, departments, companies, joint ventures or entities which belong to or are funded by centre or state governments "should not be allowed to enter in to the business of broadcasting and or distribution of TV channels."
TRAI's recommendations hold special implications for the TN government's Arasu Cable TV Corporation Private Limited as it needs to obtain fresh permission from the I&B ministry after Digitisation of cable services is implemented in Chennai.
The Punjab government had approached the I&B ministry for setting up a TV station, while there were proposals from the Gujarat government and the HRD ministry to start channels.
The AP government had submitted a proposal for distribution of signals of Mana Tv through cable operators.