House delays decision on broadcasting bill after fierce debate<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A special committee of the House of Representatives was unable to
\ncomplete its debate of the broadcasting bill on Tuesday because
\nof disagreements over a number of issues in the bill.<\/p>\n
As a result, the committee will require two more days to
\ncomplete its work. This delay, however, will not affect the
\nbill's scheduled date of endorsement, which is Nov. 25.<\/p>\n
The first disagreement revolved around the transitional period
\nto be given to television stations to adjust to regulations that
\nwill be issued to enforce the new bill.<\/p>\n
Some legislators want the government to provide the stations
\nwith a three-year transitional period, while others are pushing
\nfor five years.<\/p>\n
Noer Namri Noor of the United Development Party (PPP) and
\nSoeharsojo of the Golkar Party said television stations should be
\ngiven up to five years to adjust to the regulations because they
\nhad business contracts that would have to be reviewed.<\/p>\n
But Djoko Susilo of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said
\ntelevision stations had too often take advantage and benefited
\nfrom facilities provided by the government.<\/p>\n
\"If we give them more time, it will only benefit them,\" Djoko
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
After a series of debates, the committee agreed to give
\ntelevision stations a three-year transitional period and radio
\nstations two years.<\/p>\n
There also was a tough debate over Article 59, Paragraph 3,
\nwhich says: \"Broadcasting stations that were in existence before
\nthis law was endorsed can have relay stations (3 or 5) if, from a
\nbusiness perspective, they cannot build a local station.\"<\/p>\n
The clause also states that all television stations must
\nconvert their regional relay stations into permanent offices or
\nform business cooperations with local partners, or they will have
\nto halt their relay service.<\/p>\n
State Minister for Communication and Information Syamsul
\nMuarif, representing the government at the meeting, proposed a
\nmodification of the clause to allow broadcasting stations to have
\nrelay stations in areas where they have networks.<\/p>\n
But legislators rejected this suggestion, saying it could be
\nmanipulated to avoid developing permanent offices in regional
\nareas or cooperating with local partners.<\/p>\n
Bambang Sadono of Golkar suggested the article should require
\ntelevision stations to cooperate with local stations in
\nbroadcasting their programs.<\/p>\n
\"This article should encourage the development of locally
\nbased television stations,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Due to the contentious debate over the issue, committee
\nchairman Paulus Widiyanto adjourned the discussion until
\nThursday.<\/p>",
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