Govt can't revoke broadcasting licenses arbitrarily: Legislator
Govt can't revoke broadcasting licenses arbitrarily: Legislator
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although under the broadcasting bill the government has the power
to revoke the broadcasting license of any radio or television
station that violates the regulations, this can only be done
based upon a decision of the court, says a legislator.
House member Djoko Susilo, who was on the team that drafted
the broadcasting bill, emphasized that the government could not
revoke licenses arbitrarily.
"If there is no violation, the license won't be revoked.
Indeed, revocation must await a verdict from the court," Djoko
said on Sunday.
He was commenting on speculation that once approved, the
broadcasting bill could easily be used by the government to
muzzle the press. The bill, which is currently being deliberated,
is designed to replace Law No.24/1997 on the press, which is
considered outdated.
Article 20 of the bill stipulates that a radio broadcasting
license is valid for five years while a television broadcasting
license is valid for 10 years. The licenses can be extended.
A license can be revoked for a number of reasons, including if
a station violates frequency regulations, is off the air for
three consecutive months, assigns its license to others, or
violates technical and content requirements.
Regarding a violation of the content rules, revocation is only
permitted after a binding court decision has been handed down.
Djoko, from the Reform faction, reiterated that the revocation
and extension of broadcasting licenses would be contingent on a
recommendation from the Indonesian broadcasting commission (KPI),
a body to be set up once the bill was enacted into law.
Asked whether the short duration of broadcasting licenses
would deter investment, Djoko simply said that similar rules were
applied in other countries.
"I don't think it will hamper investment. This (the issuance
of broadcasting licenses) is an international practice," he
added.
According to Djoko, countries in Europe, and the United States
and Japan issued licenses for between 10 and 15 years in the case
of television, and five to 10 years in the case of radio.
Zainal A. Suryokusumo from the Indonesian Broadcasting Society
(MPI) concurred with Djoko, saying that the licensing of
broadcasters was a universal practice.
"Don't compare the broadcast media with the print media. Such
broadcasting licenses are normal. This is a consequence of the
allocation of a frequency, which comes within the public domain,"
Zainal said, adding that in Australia radio licenses were valid
for five years.
Zainal, who is also the director of the Radio Network for
Electoral Monitoring, said that radio broadcasters would make
sure not to commit any violations once they received their
licenses.
"There are numerous investors queuing up to get frequencies," he
added.
Commenting on the setting up of the KPI as provided for in the
broadcasting bill, Zainal said that legislators and the
government were only half-hearted when it came to giving the
commission teeth.
He suggested that the planned KPI should be given greater
powers instead of only being able to make recommendations to the
government on various broadcasting issues.
"The KPI is a sissy institution. It only has the authority to
issue recommendations but has no power to issue regulations,"
Zainal said.