Furthermore, at least three channels excluding AIR in any district will be given to three different entities. Thus, the existing ceiling limit of 15 per cent of total FM Radio channels in the country permitted to a permission holder is no longer valid.

Trai also recommended that the geographical basis for private FM radio bidding in the future might be changed from city to district. The channels available in a district shall be auctioned to the eligible bidders and shall be allocated to successful bidders in descending order of the bid price.

Existing operators may be given the option to enlarge the area of operation for the same channel to provide coverage to full district after fulfilling certain conditions.

Bidding for the remaining 97 channels of phase-II scheduled on city as operational area may be rescheduled considering district as operational area to avoid complication of subsequent migration from city to district level.