INTRODUCTION
       An Apex Forum on Information Technology Computer and Telecom for Media was held at Bangalore Centre of IETE on the 20th December 2000 from 1100 hrs to 1430 hrs. Maj Gen Yashwant Deva, AVSM (Retd), President IETE chaired the forum. List of participants for this Apex Forum is placed at Appendix `A'. It would be seen that participants from media, cable TV, industry and IETE fraternity attended the Apex Forum. Prior to the Apex Forum, Gp Capt H Kaushal,VSM(Retd), Chairman Coordination Committee for IETE Apex Forum had interacted with print media (press & publishers) and electronic media (Doordarshan and Cable TV). The views of different opinion makers were obtained and collated into a background paper. This paper was circulated to various invitees (list of invitees and letter of invitation are placed at Appendices `B' and `C'). A copy of the background paper is placed at appendix `D'.
       Many invitees had shown reservation about being able to spare a full morning for the Apex Forum on a working day. The individuals who are expected to participate in the Apex Forum are senior opinion makers in their field. They are likely to feel more comfortable in sparing a morning on a holiday. They also need to be given longer notice for the meeting.

Conduct
       Chairman Coordination Committee introduced the concept of the Apex Forum and the division of the discussions into two parts i.e. print and electronic media. A brief information about the history of Apex Forums in IETE was given. This was followed by an introduction of the subject and the background paper. Chairman of the Apex Forum and some participants made opening remarks, which at times tended to develop into discussions. This was followed by a brief summation of the proceeding by Chairman, Coordination Committee who steered the proceeding. Each participant was there after invited to give his/her views on the points developed during the opening remarks. The concluding session had to be abridged because of the shortage of time. The participants were requested to forward further thoughts, if any on the subject to Gp Capt H Kaushal,VSM(Retd). Both Maj Gen Yashwant Deva,AVSM(Retd) and Gp Capt Kaushal thanked the participants and the Bangalore Centre team. The proceedings were tape-recorded.

Issues Discussed & Recommendations by the participants

A large number of participants focused on the following issues:
a)      Future of Print Media: There were discussions about the role of print media. Will it progressively decline in future and finally disappear. The suggestions that print media could be read in any posture, lying in a bed, traveling etc were raised. It was also suggested that print media could afford analysis and would be comparatively cheap. Newspaper and magazine reading were habit forming. Disposal of newspapers, environmental considerations for the manufacture of paper, high speed of the receipt of data through electronic media, ease of storage etc were enumerated as reasons favouring electronic media. The electronic media could be first to provide raw information, while print media could process it. The general feeling was that print media had come to stay and there was little chance of it being completely replaced by electronic media in foreseeable future.

b)       Disappearing Division Convergence: There were substantive discussions about the division of media into print and electronic. It was generally felt that the division was getting blurred and could disappear in near future. The policy makers should appreciate that soon media will become a seamless whole and planning should take into account the effective and fast convergence taking place in both print and electronic media.

c)      Telecom Infrastructure: There was near unanimity about the need to improve the telecom infrastructure for the media in India. Efforts should be made to ensure generation of real competition. Privatization should be allowed to become real and meaningful. The telecom infrastructure should become cheap and be technology savvy. There was a strong plea for evolving tariff slabs, which will help voluminous users. The administrative regulations should not deny cheaper alternatives like net telephony or VSAT telephony. Many suggestions were made about the role of the regulator. There was comparison between TRAI and Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Generally participants suggested that the regulator must have more authority. Some participants felt that adequate planning for developing telecom infrastructure was lacking. Indiscriminate installation of expensive and wideband optical fibre was sited as an example.