Supreme court judgment on airwaves, 9 Feb 1995

The Supreme Court delivered this historic judgment in Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Vs Cricket Association of Bengal, which involved the rights of a cricket association to give telecast rights to an agency of its choice. The Court ruled that, "Airwaves constitute public property and must be utilised for advancing public good."

Bangalore declaration, September 1996

Policy planners, media professionals and CSOs gather in Bangalore in September 1996 to study how community radio could be relevant in India. A `Bangalore Declaration' is signed, which formed the basis of advocacy for community radio since then.

Commercial FM licensing phase-1, May 2000

108 FM frequencies were licensed in 40 cities. Only 21 commercial FM stations are currently on air, in 12 cities.

Pastapur declaration / initiative, July 17-20, 2000

A UNESCO sponsored workshop from July 17-20, 2000 in Hyderabad and Pastapur (Andhra Pradesh) brings out the `Pastapur Initiative on Community Radio', urging the government to create a three-tier structure of broadcasting in India - state-owned public radio, private commercial radio and a non-profit community radio.

Deccan Development Society (DDS), machnoor village Zaheerabad, Medak dist. (Andhra pradesh) applies for radio license, August19, 2000

Panchgani, December 2000

Media workshop where a range of issues pertaining to community radio are debated.

MYRADA applies for `Namma Dhwani' community radio license to be set up at budhikote, karnataka, June 2001

First private commercial FM station (Radio City) goes on air, Bangalore, July 3, 2001

Consultations by IGNOU, New Delhi, August 8-9, 2001

While the consultation focused on the idea of Gyan Vani, it reiterated the importance of community radio and mooted that up to 40 per cent of broadcast time could be reserved for community programming. It also articulated the need for a cooperative model.

DDS application for community radio license turned down, January 11, 2002

Internet conference on community radio, Nov 30, 2001 to Feb 10, 2002

Media-watch website, The Hoot, holds a conference - Internet Conference on Community Radio in India. (Edited proceedings are available on the website)

India's first village fm broadcast, Oravakal (Andhra Pradesh), March 2002

Campus/community radio, December 2002

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting releases `Community Radio Guidelines' in December 2002, which restricts community radio licenses to `well-established' educational institutions. News and current affairs programmes and advertisements are banned. Transmitter power up to 50 watts is permitted, with an antenna height of 30 metres. 60 applications have been received so far, but only one Campus Radio station has received a license. (Anna University 90.4 FM started broadcasting on 1 Feb 2004). (www.mib.nic.in)

Radio broadcast policy committee (Amit Mitra committee), 24 July 2003

An Expert Committee (headed by Dr. Amit Mitra, Secy. Gen., FICCI) is set up to make recommendations for Phase-II of private FM licensing. Seventy new cities are identified for commercial FM licensing in Phase-II.

Amit Mitra (Radio Broadcast Policy) committee report, November 2003

Recommends `revenue share' model, recommends news & current affairs on commercial FM.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) becomes broadcast regulator, 9 Jan 2004

Amit Mitra committee recommendations sent to TRAI, 12 Feb, 2004

Manipal colloquium on `rediscovering radio,' March 16 - 18, 2004

Many of the recommendations made at Manipal form the basis for subsequent Community Radio discussions, and a `consensus document' is circulated during the I&B Ministry's workshop on an enabling framework for CR in May 2004, New Delhi.

TRAI consultation paper on 2nd phase of FM licensing - April 14 2004

Workshop on `designing an enabling framework for community radio' organised by ministry of information & broadcasting, New Delhi, 5 & 6 May 2004

Jointly organized by the I&B Ministry, UNDP and UNESCO, the workshop brings together over 70 stake-holders, experts, donor agencies, media-persons and broadcasters to give their recommendations on Community Radio in India. A draft Community Radio Policy is drawn up by the ministry, based on the recommendations of the Workshop. The draft Policy is still `under consideration'.

TRAI open house discussions on FM-II licensing, 7th, 11th, 15th May 2004

Community Radio groups take part and demand their right to be heard. TRAI promises a separate consultation for Community Radio.

www.communityradionetwork.org - set up in June 2004

TRAI recommendations of FM-II licensing, 11 August 2004

TRAI consultation paper on community radio, August 25, 2004

TRAI open house discussions on community radio - 18 & 20 October 2004

Parliamentary consultative committee meeting on community radio - 23 Nov 2004

TRAI recommendations on CR - 9 Dec 2004

TRAI recommends liberal eligibility criteria, with the possibility of any legal entity, (including individuals and religious groups) being allowed to apply for a community radio license. News & Current Affairs to be permitted on community radio. 5 minutes of advertisements to be permitted per hour of broadcast. (www.trai.gov.in).