APEX FORUM


                                      Appendix 'D'

Background

 

Information Technology, Computers & Telecom (ICT) for Media

I. Introduction

      It is necessary to amplify/ clarify the subject of discussion. Many participants possibly got letters stating the subject to be ICT. Our discussions will center around " ICT for Media in India". We regret the inconvenience due to mix up of the subject.

      A colleague feels that media is a means of communicating the news, the views, the art & culture, entertainment etc. (the content) from it's source/ creator to the seeker/user. This definition is perhaps is too wide for our discussion in the limited time available for the Apex Forum. We will restrict our discussions to what is popularly understood to be print & electronic media. Many participants have suggested that the demarcation lines between different forms of media are fast loosing their meaning and media would soon become seamless whole. It is agreed that an encyclopedia or CD-ROM or a technical journal transmitted over the net & downloaded at the other end on paper would defy categorization into print or electronic media. These are valid arguments, but the aim of compartmentalization is merely to channaelize the discussion and not to inhibit the flow of ideas. The aim of this " round table" is to deliberate over the changes that have taken place in the media in the recent years with a view to project the future of media in coming years. Eventually the house must determine the role of ICT that would enable the media to reach its desired future goals. Are there any obstructions in the path and is it necessary to redefine our targets? Ultimate task is to work out a set of recommendations, which can be worked upon.

II. Print Media

      Newspapers, journals, books etc may be accepted to constitute print media for the purpose of present discussions. These have undergone revolutionary change in recent years. Gone are the days when knowledge was manually gathered, laboriously handwritten/typed, physically composed and printed. Voluminous data so generated presented problems of storage for future reference. Environmentalists have been protesting against denuding the forest cover to produce paper. The change to printing the contents at remote locations viz. FAX, Satellite links or Internet are phenomenal. Future could bring paperless print media or the use of electronic paper. ICT has played a key role in bringing major changes in pre press, press and post press operations of print media. Generally speaking the following areas need attention: -

  • Telecom infrastructure in the country has certainly under gone substantial improvements. However there is little doubt about the need for further improvements. Media must get telecom facilities of international standards at affordable rates. Privatization and corporatisation could have offered some solutions, but both these have come too late and at a pace, which could be quickened. The role of the regulator calls for serious discussions.
  • Many technically available facilities are denied to media for bureaucratic reasons e.g. use of voice over VSAT or Internet telephony. There is a need to ponder over ways and means to expeditiously pass on the benefits of technological advancements to the users without adding unnecessary administrative/ avoidable cost. Actually innovations should be commercially supported in the initial phase rather than being heavily taxed.
  • Piracy has continued to be a major irritant and defied a solution. It only has moral dimensions but could lead to stunting the growth technological development. At the same time the sellers must learn from Indian experiment with exorbitant tax rates. Will a balanced approach to pricing coupled with strict policing help?
  • Availability of bandwidth has been an obstacle in recent years. There is nevertheless a need to ensure that the pendulum is not swung too much to the other side which would add unnecessary cost.
  • Past experience indicates that the quality of the " Contents" suffered at the many websites. Is there a need to create / build up safeguards to ensure quality?
  • The media must be accountable for the contents put out on the web or circulated otherwise. Is there need for an Institutional monitoring.

IIIElectronic Media

Definition of electronic media is as difficult as the print media, but broadly discussions could center around TV, radio and cable/ DTH. The change has been from a handful of amplitude modulated radio stations two decades ago to coverage of major part of our country by colour television stations, TV through satellite and finally the cable/ DTH. FM radio stations have given a new lease of life to radio. Convergence if the mantra of future. Govt. of India is on the point of introducing a bill on the subject, which will convert Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) into a Super Regulator. The following areas could be considered as a guide for discussions.

  1. Electronic media has tremendous potential for distance education. Critics feel that the projections made to the government for the need to expand the coverage for distance learning has never been fulfilled. Only a meager portion of resources is used for education and those too in an unimaginable way. What needs to be done to exploit the full potential of this powerful media for educating the masses specially in rural and remote areas?
  2. Convergence is a technical achievement. Is it enough to create a super regulator? What else should be done and how?
  3. Free market controlled economy calls for allocation of resources based on demand. Many argue that the country doesn't need such a large number of channels. There is a growing feeling that a developing country like India should evaluate & guide/ channelize resources into socially growth-oriented projects. Is there a need to re-evaluate our priorities?
  4. Technology has thrown up many new innovations like DTH. Rapidly changing scene will lead to many newer facilities/ services becoming available. Is there a need to examine the details to determine technologies suitable for our needs? Do professional bodies like IETE have a role in this field?
  5. There have been attempts to monopolize the area by the cable operator. Is competition needed and how can this be achieved?
  6. While the technology of transmission has progressed exponentially, the growth in techniques of content generation and the producers mindset have, perhaps not kept pace with the hardware growth.

IVConclusion

The canvass is wide but the time for discussions is limited. There is a wealth of knowledge among the invitees to the Apex Forum and the country must benefit from it. The utility of this platform will be lost if we do not collate the expertise available among the participants into cohesive and pragmatic recommendations: recommendations that can be worked upon by different agencies.

 

Gp Capt H Kaushal, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, Coordination Committee