The draft law covers 10 sections, with the first concerning radio and television business licensing. Issues include whether licences should be issued at national, regional or provincial level; the maximum shareholding ratio of the licensed companies' shareholders; and regulations to control cross-media ownership and prevent monopolies.

In the second section on programming, the audience will be asked if there should be a minimum ratio for special programmes such as those aimed at children.

The law will also cover ethical controls and the process for individuals to file complaints and seek compensation. An important decision concerns whether the to-be-established National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) would be empowered to evaluate programme quality.

Also discussed will be the circumstances in which the NBC would be empowered to suspend or revoke licences.

The hearing, at Bangkok's Century Park Hotel, will take place amid increasing calls for independent media channels, following the revocation of the television broadcasting concession to iTV Plc.

Following the revocation, talks are taking place about the business model of the channel, now called TITV.

The committee working on the TITV model convened yesterday and resolved that TITV should become a truly public TV channel, of which informative content must account for 70 to 100 per cent

Meanwhile, TITV should be owned no more than 51 per cent by the private sector, each shareholder holding no more than 5 per cent. The committee also proposed making shares available to the general public but barring politicians from holding them.

Darunee Hirunrak, chairman of the committee, said some members had proposed that TITV should be an independent channel operated in the public interest, not for commercial gain. Its content should consist of 70 per cent news and 30 per cent creative entertainment.

The channel would be under the supervision of four committees, consisting of the board of directors, an administrative committee, editorial committee and media monitor.

The company operating the channel would be allowed to hold a maximum stake of 51 per cent and the rest would be open to the public.

"This model is to resolve the problems that happened to iTV," she said. A public hearing for finalising proposals over public and independent TV will take place at the Public Relations Department tomorrow. About 300 participants from the public sector, industry and education are expected to attend.

Darunee said the committee would summarise all the ideas and opinions from the hearing before seeking approval from the Cabinet.