Defaulting TV, radio stations given month-end deadline to straighten out

Oct 02, 2013 News

– new applications to be considered next month

Authorities have issued a month-end deadline to eight broadcasters including the state-owned NCN Channel 11 and NTN Channel 69, to streamline operations or face possible actions.

GNBA Chairman,
Bibi Shadick

Chairman of the Governing Board of Directors of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Bibi Shadick, yesterday also disclosed that the entity will start considerations of some 29 new applications for new services in the coming weeks.
Last week, the board sent off letters to the broadcasters who have over the past months been engaged in meetings to regularise under new regulations. Warning letters have also been sent to STVS Channel 2; the government-owned Guyana Learning Channel; RBS Channel 13; WRHM; Tarzee of Bartica and the New Guyana Company.
In addition to outstanding paperwork including information on board of directors, the broadcasters will have to pay frequency and broadcasting fees.
The GNBA was established last year, following the passage of the Broadcast Act in 2011. Under new regulations, broadcasters have to pay a $2.5M fee or 3% of their gross revenues for the previous year.
According to Shadick, the law is clear with regard to non-compliance, and broadcasting without a licence will definitely have repercussions.
Six licences are ready but cannot be issued by GNBA until they are officially published in the National Gazette. Those with licences ready are TVG, GWTV Channel 2; Pinnacle Communications (owned by businessman, Alfro Alphonso); MTV Channel 65; Telcor Broadcasting, and Radio Guyana Inc.
Regarding new applications, the official said that the board has received 29 new applications for new services, including seven for television; 17 for radio; three for cable and two for IPTV. With a decision to be taken how to deal with IPTV, the new applications are to be considered as early as November, Shadick said.
Of course, new licences will have to take into account the availability of spectrum with priority given to whether there are specific circumstances like religious broadcasting and geographical considerations. Two applications, from Inspire Inc. and an inter-religious group, have been submitted.
While Kaieteur News has applied for radio and TV licences, Shadick noted that Stabroek News, Capitol News and Mark Benschop, who has links to an internet radio operation, have not submitted applications. While there are applications for TV and radio operations in Linden, Region 10, there has not been any from the regional administration which has been clamouring for permission.
Regarding the operations of the GNBA, Shadick said that the authority itself is not established as yet, although the board has been operating, meeting 26 times this year. Soon, the body will be advertising for technical and other support staffers.
Shadick made it clear that while approval may be granted for broadcasting, it does not necessarily mean that is automatic permission to broadcast. A number of criteria, including fees and the allocation of frequencies by the National Frequency and Management Unit (NFMU), still have to be met.
Responding to questions whether the board of GNBA can force new, approved broadcasters to operate, the official said that it would not be unreasonable for the licencees to be given time to import their equipment and get their act together. However, the Board may consider at some time, measures to ensure that some timeline is introduced to guide the process.
The issue of broadcasting has been a contentious one in the last two years after several persons, most with close links to Government, were approved for new radio licences. The granting was days before former President Bharrat Jagdeo was due to end his term in office in November 2011.
Among those granted multiple frequencies were Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop; the PPP’s party newspaper; and Telcor Broadcasting, a company owned by an overseas-based sister of Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud.
A number of other individuals including singer Rudy Grant and Wireless Connections, a company facing financial difficulties, were granted one frequency each.
The Opposition has been questioning the allocations by Jagdeo, saying that he breached a decade-old agreement in which no new broadcasters could be given permission until there are new regulations and the establishment of a governing body.
The Opposition has called for the scrapping of the licences. The issue had sparked protest actions and a court case.