Broadcast rules feared to turn back the clock

Broadcast rules feared to turn back the clock

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

What you can and cannot see on TV is now practically in the hands
of the government, and so is what you can or cannot hear on the
radio, say some communications experts.

They were commenting on four recently-issued government
regulations on foreign, private, community and subscription-based
broadcasters.

With the power to issue and revoke licenses in the hands of
the government, there was significant potential for abuses of
power to occur so as to ensure the broadcasting of biased
information.

Minister of Communications and Information Sofyan Djalil has,
however, ruled out such a likelihood, saying that all decisions
would be taken on a collective basis.

The government regulations, issued on Nov. 16, require the
information minister to invite the Indonesian Broadcasting
Commission (KPI) and other relevant institutions to participate
in a forum tasked with deciding on licensing issues based on
collective agreement.

However, critics say that "other relevant institutions" is
nowhere defined in the regulations and neither is it specified
how decisions will be arrived at. They also point to the fact
that the minister will have the final say.

This, they say, makes broadcasters vulnerable to government
pressure as the government is now in a stronger position than the
KPI.

"Essentially, this could hamper the (unrestricted) flow of
information to the public, and affect matters that might be of
interest to the public," said KPI member Ade Armando.

Broadcasters appear to be virtually free now to air programs
that contravene the broadcasting standards set by the KPI as,
unlike in the Broadcasting Law, no legal penalties are stipulated
in the new regulations.

Article 48 of Government Regulation No. 50/2005 on private
sector broadcasters says that the KPI can only order that such
shows be taken off the air temporarily.

"The public is being prejudiced in that they are being exposed
to such shows without any possibility of serious action being
taken by us, or even by the government," Ade said.

News packages from foreign broadcasters, such as the Voice of
America (VoA) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),
will no longer be allowed.

The same applies to music shows featuring "indecent
performances" and sports shows featuring "sadistic scenes" from
foreign broadcasters. However, no definitions have been included
in the regulations.

For viewers of pay-TV, who hand over their money to be able to
watch programs uninterrupted by repetitious local advertisements,
be prepared for changes.

Pay-TV will also now be required to broadcast public service
advertisements, and foreign ads will have to be replaced with
local ones.

This policy clearly violates the broadcasting law, which
prohibits commercial advertising on pay-TV.

Community broadcasters will only be allowed to broadcast state
events and educational shows, with limited access to shows
broadcast by other stations.