New broadcast law promote decentralization: Supporters
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The broadcasting bill, rejected by private televisions stations, has been hailed by the community broadcast network and media observers, contending it will help promote decentralization of information dissemination.
Ali Pangestu of the Indonesian Community Radios Network (JRKI) said the new broadcasting bill would encourage the formation of more community-based broadcasting stations.
"The positive impact of that bill is that the people will enjoy alternative information from the community broadcasting stations."
He noted that the existing national TV stations tended to be centralistic in their news programs, reporting mostly events in Jakarta. Many of them were not event relevant for people outside Jakarta.
Bimo Nugroho of the Institute for Free-flow of Information (ISAI) concurred, saying the bill will end the practice of centralistic broadcast system.
"The rejection from private television stations is because they consider the stipulation will only create material losses to them," Bimo said.
Executive director of the Indonesian Media Law and Policy Center (IMLPC) Hinca Pandjaitan also supported the endorsement of the bill.
According to Hinca, the pros and cons over the endorsement of the bill was unavoidable because it would try to regulate the industry which was already flourishing. And this industry would not want to be curtailed.
"Whether we like it or not, the bill should be endorsed. All critics can give input for its revision in the future," Hinca said.
The House of Representatives endorsed on Thursday the broadcasting bill amidst opposition from private television stations.
Broadcast media people opposed the bill on the grounds it would create uncertainty in the broadcasting industry as well as limit their operations.
Under the bill, all television stations will not be allowed to have nationwide broadcasting. If stations insist on nationwide coverage, they must cooperate with local partners to form a network broadcast.
If television operators are unwilling to make a network with local broadcasters, then they have to stop local transmissions.
Besides the broadcasters, some media activists have also voiced their rejection of the bill, which they said gave too much power to the government and this could violate the people's right to information.
Nevertheless, supporters like Ali and Bimo contend that the rejection by broadcasters as well as other media organizations were more driven by their own interests of protecting their businesses, at the expense of the people.
Ali said the existing private television stations should give a chance for the bill to be implemented and when, in the future, they find something wrong with the bill, they can demand revisions.
At least, Ali said, the new bill would create order in the broadcasting business, and also ensure that broadcasters would not dictate the public with their programs of pornography, violence and sadism.
All those programs would be screened by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), which is mandated by the new broadcasting bill.
Under the bill, KPI will determine standards of broadcasting programs to be aired on television and radio stations.
All programs must respect religious teachings, morality, limit sexuality, sadism, violence as well as protect children, teenagers, and women.
The television station must also inform the public that certain programs are allowed for all ages and others are not.