House delays decision on broadcasting bill after fierce debate

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A special committee of the House of Representatives was unable to complete its debate of the broadcasting bill on Tuesday because of disagreements over a number of issues in the bill.

As a result, the committee will require two more days to complete its work. This delay, however, will not affect the bill's scheduled date of endorsement, which is Nov. 25.

The first disagreement revolved around the transitional period to be given to television stations to adjust to regulations that will be issued to enforce the new bill.

Some legislators want the government to provide the stations with a three-year transitional period, while others are pushing for five years.

Noer Namri Noor of the United Development Party (PPP) and Soeharsojo of the Golkar Party said television stations should be given up to five years to adjust to the regulations because they had business contracts that would have to be reviewed.

But Djoko Susilo of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said television stations had too often take advantage and benefited from facilities provided by the government.

"If we give them more time, it will only benefit them," Djoko said.

After a series of debates, the committee agreed to give television stations a three-year transitional period and radio stations two years.

There also was a tough debate over Article 59, Paragraph 3, which says: "Broadcasting stations that were in existence before this law was endorsed can have relay stations (3 or 5) if, from a business perspective, they cannot build a local station."

The clause also states that all television stations must convert their regional relay stations into permanent offices or form business cooperations with local partners, or they will have to halt their relay service.

State Minister for Communication and Information Syamsul Muarif, representing the government at the meeting, proposed a modification of the clause to allow broadcasting stations to have relay stations in areas where they have networks.

But legislators rejected this suggestion, saying it could be manipulated to avoid developing permanent offices in regional areas or cooperating with local partners.

Bambang Sadono of Golkar suggested the article should require television stations to cooperate with local stations in broadcasting their programs.

"This article should encourage the development of locally based television stations," Bambang said.

Due to the contentious debate over the issue, committee chairman Paulus Widiyanto adjourned the discussion until Thursday.