MUMBAI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) has provided some policy guidelines on expansion of FM radio broadcasting services for Phase-III through private agencies.

According to a press release of Press Information Bureau (PIB) the guidelines provides an option to the existing permission holders to migrate to FM Phase- III.

The last date for signing of Migration Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) has been extended up to 30 June, 2012. FM Phase-II operators who are desirous of migration to Phase-III regime, can now execute the GOPA by 30 June, 2012.

In its budget proposals for 2012-13, the government said that it had estimated to raise non-tax revenue of Rs 16 billion from auction of FM Phase- III licence, but this auction have not materialized so far in this financial year, ending March 31, 2012. The FM Phase-III policy extends FM radio services to about 227 new cities, in addition to the present 86 cities with a total of 839 new FM radio channels.

The country plans to appoint an auctioneer within the next three months for the third phase of FM radio frequency auction.

The total spectrum available for FM radio auction is 837 Mhz and one-third of it will be auctioned first. The dates for other two phases will be decided based on the response of first auction.