New Delhi: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has recommended merging the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under a single umbrella to improve coordination on technology convergence.
The recommendation was made to the MIB as part of the parliamentary panel’s Demands for Grants report for 2025-26, which was presented in Parliament last week.
The proposal aims to streamline policy-making and regulatory frameworks amid the rapid transformation of the media and communications landscape, driven by increasing smartphone adoption and affordable high-speed internet.
However, industry insiders anticipate resistance from the broadcasting sector, which has historically maintained that broadcasting services and telecommunications infrastructure serve fundamentally different functions and should not be regulated under a single framework.
The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) has previously argued that while telecommunications infrastructure is subject to licensing as a public resource, broadcasting content creation falls under fundamental rights.
The standing committee has also urged the MIB to explore the feasibility of a comprehensive media bill to regulate broadcasting, cable TV and OTT platforms. Additionally, it recommended the establishment of a media council encompassing print, digital, and broadcasting sectors to improve coordination and enforcement.
Commenting on the committee’s recommendations, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) expressed support for the proposed integration of the ministries. COAI Director General Lt. Gen Dr S P Kochhar stated that such a move would enhance policy uniformity, transparency, and compliance by eliminating redundant policy formulations.
He highlighted the necessity of extending a unified regulatory framework to both telecom service providers (TSPs) and over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms, particularly in combating spam and fraudulent communication.
“Taking the same logic into the operational domain covering spam/fraud messages and calls spanning over both telecom networks and OTT channels, it is necessary to apply one set of policies and regulations to both components, i.e., TSPs and OTTs.”
He pointed out that while telcos are regulated under the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCPR) 2018, OTT-based communications remain unchecked, posing increasing risks to consumers and the government.
COAI welcomed the recent collaboration between DoT and an OTT communication provider to curb spam and scam calls but stressed the need for a standardized regulatory approach for both telcos and OTTs.
“We are hopeful that this step will help in uniformly addressing the issue of spam, telemarketing, etc., across all communication channels and provide much-needed relief to consumers.”
The proposal is expected to spark further debate, particularly regarding the autonomy of the broadcasting industry and concerns about regulatory overreach.
Meanwhile, the MIB has indicated that the much-anticipated Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, which seeks to replace the existing Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, will not be introduced in the current parliamentary session.
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