Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a consultation paper concerning the "Reserve Prices for Auction of FM Radio Channels." On 19 March 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) requested TRAI's recommendations on setting reserve prices for the auction of FM radio channels in 18 cities/towns across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, aiming to expand Private FM Radio.

In this context, the MIB has introduced a new category 'E' for these cities. It is proposed that the technical parameters applicable to category 'D' cities, except for Effective Radiated Power (ERP), will be applicable to category 'E' cities as well.

The proposed ERP for Category 'E' is set between 750 Watts and 1 Kilowatt. Additionally, the MIB has sought TRAI's recommendations for reserve prices in the cities of Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), Rourkela (Odisha), and Rudrapur (Uttarakhand).

This consultation paper is designed to gather comments and views from stakeholders on determining reserve prices for the auction of FM radio channels under the FM Phase-III Policy. Stakeholders are invited to submit their written comments on the consultation paper by 29 August 2024, with counter-comments due by 12 September 2024.