The BJP-led government has turned over the issue of opening up direct-to-home television broadcasts to a group of ministers consisting of information & broadcasting (I&B) minister Pramod Mahajan, defence minister George Fernandes, home minister L.K. Advani, communications minister Jagmohan and finance minister Yashwant Sinha. The Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee himself constituted the panel. The group on telecom (GoT) has been examining the issue of DTH for a couple of weeks now.

The ministerial group is expected to recommend the steps that the government should take while deciding on DTH (in favour or against) to ensure that the process is seen to be transparent and fair to all.

Some observers expect a decision on DTH to be taken in the shape of an executive order by end March around the same time that the new telecom policy is to be announced. The budget session of Parliament will commence on 22 February and conclude on 14 May. It will break for a recess between 18 March and 12 April.

The composition of the panel indicates that the government is serious about putting the DTH issue behind it once and for all. Both Mahajan and Jagmohan are known supporters and are likely to present the convergence (between telecom and broadcasting) view. The finance minister will provide inputs on the revenues the government could generate through licensing or auctioning and taxing of DTH services. Home minister Advani and defence minister Fernandes have been inducted into the group to tackle the national security angle.

The following table draws up a who?s who of the DTH wannabes