Broadband world!!!

Are we ready for the broadband world?
Dev Vrat, lecturer in Centre for Audio-Visual Studies, Bhopal.

Central government has recently announced its broadband policy. After the television and telecom revolution now private companies have jumped into the foray of broadband. Let it be more clear, broadband means a higher speed of data inflow, you never ever thought about, will be available in your home at unbelievable cheaper tariff. Moreover, this time data is coming to you in a more unified manner via single broader pipeline. It means telephone, television, Internet, fax etc. with the same connection. This is convergence of technologies, media and data inflow.

Now a days Internet facility is limited either to offices or cyber cafes, but the broadband policy is going to make Internet a domestic thing. This means a huge amount of obnoxious audio, video or textual data in form of pornography will also be available on your desktop with a easy reach of children. In the big cities people have already started opting for broadband connection. Obviously this is cheaper and better. With broadband connection Internet is now accessible unlimited only for 500-800 rupees a month. This revolution is taking place very silently and Indians have yet to wake up about it. Experiences from America and Britain tell that broadband revolution altogether changes the way we live. It comes with lots of promises and problems. It really requires a brand new ‘broadband generation’.

In a traditional country like India, how broadband is going to happen, will be clear in the coming few years but perhaps the biggest challenge, Internet will pose before Indian parents, will be in the form of availability of porn stuff on desk top monitor. Same was the case of developed countries also. In India this will dispute old morals about sex, marriage and family. However already the production and consumption of sexually explicit videos and magazines is rampant in India but Internet will make this a domestic phenomenon not only in terms of consumption but production also.

Usually the issues related to the production, distribution and consumption of pornography is understood in terms of morality. And the concept of morality is highly culture specific. Therefore there are very much chances of ‘culture shock’ because Internet is truly a global medium. Where the line between producer and consumer has blurred. Anybody from anywhere can leave any type of content on net. May be a sex tape or appeal for violence full of hatred against a particular section of society.

Almost all over the world, traditionally and ideally sex is meant for procreation, confined to bedrooms between married couples. While pornography depicts non-reproductive sex acts. The purpose of this is purely making money. Moreover this is between unmarried persons. Feminists argue that pornography is immoral because it ‘commodifies’ and ‘objectifies’ female body. They also criticize pornography as it depicts ‘male fantasy of idealized female sexuality’ that dehumanize female image. On the other hand, Marxist theoreticians say pornography is inherently immoral as porn performers uses their body for earning money not for recreation or procreation and they are similar to the labour class.

In western countries, pornography is being studied very seriously in media departments of universities. Today pornography has developed into a billion dollar industry. And all that is easily available on Internet. Now the question arises how should we cop up with this. One strategy can be the blockage of all porn sites on the main server of India as was done in our orthodox neighbor Pakistan. But is that the only and correct way to tackle with the fallouts of broadband? No sensible person would agree with this approach of closing own windows.

Even now Information Technology Act 2000 bans watching porn sites in cyber cafes. But in case of domestic Internet connections law cannot supervise its citizens what they surf in their bedrooms. That is not possible at all and government is not meant for this. After all citizens have right to privacy to be respected until and unless there is some national interest on stake.

Here a broader issue comes in to debate, are we mature enough to deal with the new technology? Every technology demands a certain level of preparedness from its users, same is the case with internet also. Internet is universal in its very basic nature and content. It expects a user with a global outlook. Who is mature enough to consume relevant content as per the requirement. Censorship is not possible in cyber world; self-censorship is the thing new media demands. Actually technology has opened up the floodgates of all types of information it is up to the user to choose best for his or her.

Worst effect of porn stuff has been found on children. During impressionable age exposure to sexual material to a child may create problems in her/his natural process of growth. Domestication of Internet will definitely create surveillance problems for parents. Some lock software will be of great help. But more helpful will be the introduction of basic sex education in the school curriculum. The simple logic is if you cannot stop the flood get prepared to face it. Media literacy is another front that needs attention. We can teach children right from the beginning about the proper use of Internet. But constant parental guidance during net use by children cannot be ignored in any case. After all the role of family in the grooming of their children is of utmost importance.

Who bothers about cable consumers?

Who bothers about cable consumers?
Dev Vrat, lecturer in Centre for Audio Visual Studies (CAVS)

A Person spending a lot of time at home watching television is called 'Couch Potato' in America. This word depicts a person who is sitting in a very comfortable sofa unmanageably just like a potato. Actually this word shows very sarcastically the physical and mental state of a television viewer. All over the world television has made its viewers passive. This is the nature and requirement of television and market as well. Market demands a faithful consumer, who never questions on what ever is dished out before him. Market does not like consumer awareness.

In the recent cable crisis also cable consumers are having the same position. Channel owners are increasingly converting their free channels in to pay channels to reduce their economic losses. While Multi Service Operators (MSO) and Cable Operators are either increasing monthly cable fee or not disclosing the real number of their clients to channel owners. But surprisingly cable consumers do not have any say in this matter while they are the real sufferer. They are in huge number but totally unorganised. This is the basic reason why issues concerning consumer's interests does not exist in this whole debate.

According to an estimate 7 crore Indian families have Television sets out of which almost half have cable connection. Today cable operation have become a full-fledged industry in which lakhs of people are earning out of it. There are many organisations of cable operators to press government for desired decisions. These organisations publish monthly magazines like 'Cable Quest' also. The number of satellite channels is increasing day by day but cable service has not improved significantly.

The Cable Television Network Regulation Act 1995 have many provisions to safeguard the cable consumers interests. It insures the quality cable service to consumers. In case they do not get good service, they can lodge complaint against MSO or Cable Operator to DM, SDM or any other responsible officer. But common people do not know this act and their rights. Those who know avoid any initiative in this regard. And what results is the game of channel owners and cable operators go on uninterrupted.

Local administration should interfere this crisis. As in case of Bhopal administration is trying to resole the crisis. Why state should intervene, because this is concerned with lakhs of people's interest. Viewers are one of the very important party to this debate. Like in Bhopal since 14 November Zee and Star channels are not available to viewers. As usual
cable operator will come to collect the monthly fee and many viewers will outburst on them. Some will refuse to pay the money and in return 'Cabelwalla' will threat to disconnect the cable connection because he has monopoly in this trade and consumer has no other option to keep his voice low. This is a common scene these days. Cable crisis is not a new phenomenon now. Channels had been blocked many times earlier also. Particularly in Bhopal this battle is getting intense day by day.

One of the basic question linked with this debate is, if cable television is considered as a service, why it should not come under the preview of court. When a viewer enjoys television channels in lieu of some regular fee, what should his minimum rights being a cable consumers. In case his rights are injured where he should go for justice? This all should be specified clearly. Another important debatable point is, whether should cable consumers be given right to comment on the content and quality of channels.
In a democratic country it is expected that media will behave democratically and respect the right of selection of its audience. Presently in the negotiation between channel representatives and MSO's viewers are not even asked about their choice and problems. Consumers are like a poor cow who have no choice but to eat whatever is served to it. Viewers are treated like a 'Couch Potato' having no voice and thought.

There is one more solution, in which cable consumers have to unite themselves. They have to form viewers committees in each colony. These associations are a common thing in America and European countries. These committees will put their views before channel owners, MSO's and cable operators. They can suggest about the content and quality of the programmes. Actually this will certainly be a new approach towards them selves. And now viewers will not be a passive creature but they will prepare themselves to play an active and more respectable role in television and cable industry.