Community stations call for new radio rule to be revised
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang
Community radio operators in West Sumatra have requested the central government revise several articles in Government Regulation No. 51/2005 on community broadcasters that was implemented last month.
Clauses they consider need revising include those on licensing procedures that require approval from the Minister of Communications and Information, a 30-day period for license extensions and a maximum broadcast radius set at 2.5 kilometers from a station's transmitter.
They have also proposed that the rules on the use of Indonesian as the main language of broadcast, the policy requiring radio stations be wholly-owned by the local community, and an ambiguous set of rules regulating radio advertising and commercial broadcasts, be reviewed.
The demand for the revision was delivered in a meeting of community radio operators in West Sumatra at the office of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in Padang on Sunday.
Hendri, a manager of the Kuranji FM, a radio station catering to the Puah community on the outskirts of Padang city, said the issuance of a radio license -- now in the hands of the minister, which used to be granted by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) -- was against Law No. 32/2002 on broadcasting.
"In the new regulation, the KPI is only administrative in nature, or just a mailman; it is no longer the determining force in the licensing procedure. This is clearly working against the idea that it is an independent state agency, which supervises broadcasting, and licensing procedures," Hendri said.
Nurhayati Kahar of the West Sumatra Community Radio Network said the regulation on license extensions of 30 days and the maximum broadcast radius of 2.5 km were unfair.
"In remote areas where people are dispersed over a wide area, such as in Papua or in West Sumatra, the policy limiting the radius of broadcast to only 2.5 km is clearly unworkable and will only complicate licensing procedures.
"The 30-day license extension period is also too short for community radio stations located far from the city," Nurhayati said.
Nurhayati, who is the manager of the Pariaman Female Voice station, also questioned the requirement to use the national language as the main broadcast medium.
A distinctive feature of traditional community radio was the use of the local vernacular as the main spoken language. The new regulation would without doubt inhibit community radio from attracting an audience, she said.
Community radio operators have also questioned the rules on ownership that restrict outsiders from contributing funds to radio stations, including contributions from residents who have migrated outside the station's coverage area.
They are also confused about the rules on community service advertising placements, which are still pending. Local radio stations sometimes air cheap promotions for businesses in the local community and public service advertisements from the government and companies.
The West Sumatra Community Radio Network has a membership of 34 community radio stations, including stations for traditional craftspeople, university campuses, schools and mosques, as well as at least 30 other community radio stations affiliated to the network.
"Community radio is a great help to assist the government empower people in the villages and marginalized groups in society. But studying the government regulation, we see it has limitations and does not have space for improvements," Hendri said.
He said the network would submit a review proposal for Law No. 51/2005 to the House of Representatives in the near future.
Responding to the network, Indonesian Broadcasting Association West Sumatra head Ferry Zen said community radio operators had two months to deliver a revision proposal.
"In the least, the proposals could be included in the ministerial decree. Giving governors the power to issue licenses delegated by the minister, for example, would possibly be in line with the regional autonomy law," Ferry said.