A long, winding road for community radio

A long, winding road for community radio

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A radio station for villagers on the slopes of Mt. Merapi, a
radio station for farmers in the Lembang highlands, West Java,
and other community radio stations now can come out loud with the
endorsement of the new broadcasting law last year.

After being branded as 'illegal radio' and raided once they
aired, community radio is finally recognized as a broadcasting
institution in the country.

"It's very relieving. We can operate now without being afraid
of being closed down by the government," Ali Pangestu,
coordinator of the Indonesian Community Radios Network (JRKI),
told The Jakarta Post.

Community radio is basically a radio station which is owned
and run by a community. It is independent, non-commercial and
serves the interests of people in its community.

The programs usually offer entertainment, practical
information or religious or cultural programs.

A community radio station on the slopes of Mt. Merapi would
give information on how to avoid danger when the volcano erupts.
Or a radio for farmers in Lembang would give tips on agriculture
or cattle husbandry.

Normally, it has a limited transmission power of around 20
watts, which results in limited coverage of around 20 square
kilometers.

In the Broadcasting Law No 32/2002, which was passed on Nov.
28, 2002 to replace Community Broadcasting Law No 24/1997, TV and
radio has been included along with public, commercial and
subscription broadcasting.

Within months of the endorsement, community stations have
mushroomed. Although there has been no data reported on how many
community stations there are in the country, the law has sparked
the establishment of community stations in many areas in the
country.

The Voice of Farmers Radio Network (JRSP), in West Java, has
about 400 community stations as members. JRKI, Ali said, has
about 150 member stations throughout the country, including West
Java Community Radio Network (JRK Jabar) and Yogyakarta Community
Radio Network (JRK Yogyakarta).

In many countries, community stations are not new. According
to Kombinasi bulletin, there are now 8,000 stations in the U.S.
categorized as community stations, grassroots radio, and campus
radio.

In The Philippines, the government not only gives licenses but
goes as far as funding about 40 community stations.

Although the law to accommodate community radio is three-
months old, some community stations have existed for years,
including Radio Abilawa in Cipendeuy district, Subang, West Java,
The Voice of Farmers Radio in Klaten, Central Java, and Radio
Angkringan in Yogyakarta.

"Radio is the most effective media, particularly for remote
villages where information is scarce," Sri Aryani of Combine
Resource Institute (CRI), a non-governmental organization working
on community information networks in the country.

And there is a growing need from people for this type of media
as information on their community is not accommodated by the
mainstream broadcast media.

"Community radio will enrich culture, information and
knowledge for the community because what they need is actually
information about their community. It is unstoppable,"
Atmakusumah Astraatmadja from the Indonesian Press Council said.

The repressive New Order administration was not very fond of
this media, saying it would spark racial, ethnic and religious
conflicts, which might lead to national disintegration.

The fear has proved baseless. Radio Abilawa in Subang, West
Java, for instance, managed to stop a long-standing feud in
Cipendeuy district.

The United Nations Education, Science and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) says community radio can help democracy
proceed as it opens chances for wider public participation. It is
also a catalyst for development in urban and rural areas.

The law, however, does not end problems faced by community
stations. Among others is radio frequency.

As of now, the government has yet to allocate radio
frequencies for both commercial and community stations.

"At present, radio stations just pick up any channel frequency
which has not been taken," Ali said.

'Radio frequency sweeping' is sometimes conducted by the
Ministry of Communications and Information and stations are
raided. Such a case happened in February, with rural station
Trendi Niaga in Pangalengan, West Java.

"Regional administrations should urge and facilitate
communities to have community radio. After all, they are
protected by the law. On the other hand, the stations should get
proper frequency licenses and other requirements," Atmakusumah
said.

Atmakusumah urged the government to speed up the establishment
of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), which will
function as a regulatory body, including allocating frequencies
and licenses.

Sustainability of community radio is another crucial problem.
Unlike commercial radio, community radio cannot rely on
commercial advertising for income, as stipulated by the law.

"The most common way is community fees, selling song card
requests or broadcasting community notices," Ali explained.

Ali said community radio operators were gearing up to organize
themselves professionally.

"It's good we have a legal foundation now. But there is still
a long way to go. Lots of work to be done."