Is an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) required with the application?
Yes. Applicants must submit an Earnest Money Deposit in the form of a Bank Guarantee issued by a Scheduled Bank (in the format prescribed by the Ministry). The EMD should be 25% of the reserve price for each channel in the selected city.
What is the validity period of the FM radio license under Phase-III Batch III?
The license, or permission, is valid for a period of 15 years from either the date the channel becomes operational or from the end of the stipulated operationalization period, whichever is earlier.
Are existing FM license holders allowed to participate in the auction?
Yes, existing license holders are permitted to participate in the auction process.
What is the format of the auction process?
The FM radio license auction will be conducted through an ascending e-auction process, similar to the one used by the Department of Telecommunications for the auction of 3G/4G spectrum.
Who is eligible to apply for an FM radio license?
Only companies registered in India under the Companies Act, 1956 or 2013 are eligible to participate in the bidding process and obtain permission to operate FM radio channels, in accordance with the policies and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).