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.