Community Radios in Paraguay in the Process of Regularization
08-06-2004 (Paris)
Over one hundred community radios in Paraguay that are currently operating without a license could very soon receive special permits to begin broadcasting in full legality according to a pledge made by the authorities of the country’s Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL), which under Paraguayan law has the mandate to regulate broadcasting and allocate frequencies.
The promise came at the end of a two-day seminar on “Paraguayan Broadcasting in the 21st Century”, held in Asuncion, on June 2-3, 2004, organized by UNESCO, the Paraguayan Parliament’s Commission on Media and Information and the Jakue’ke National News Agency.
The meeting brought together over 100 participants representing community, educational and religious radios, as well as commercial broadcasters and the national, public radio corporation. It also included academics, students, representatives of CONATEL and of the executive and legislative powers of government and a selection of international experts.
The pledge by CONATEL marks a distinct break from tradition in Latin America, whereby in the vast majority of countries of the region, community or non-commercial broadcasters have not been recognized by law and therefore do not have permits or licenses allowing them to access the airwaves. As a result, and in light of the difficulties in obtaining these permits, many of these stations have decided to broadcast without one, which in practice means illegally, something that UNESCO does not condone and has repeatedly stated that only legal broadcasting can be tolerated and supported. The issue of illegality has been at the root of difficult relations between the region’s community and commercial broadcasters.
In recent years, and to improve the situation, UNESCO has been sparing no efforts to advise national authorities and urge them to seek ways to progressively grant licenses to these type of broadcasters which serve such a vital service to smaller, marginalized or particular sectors of society.
The decision taken by the Paraguayan authorities is very much welcomed by UNESCO and it is hoped that this will pave the way for the other countries of the region to take similar action with the goal of ending the issue of illegality but also, more importantly, granting access to the airwaves and giving a voice to all sectors of society.
As a result of UNESCO’s cooperation with the Paraguayan authorities, the latter have also requested UNESCO assistance in adapting their broadcasting legislation so that the recognition of community radios will not only be by special permit but also go one step further and become enshrined in a new modern and democratic law which they wish to adopt as soon as possible.
The meeting brought together over 100 participants representing community, educational and religious radios, as well as commercial broadcasters and the national, public radio corporation. It also included academics, students, representatives of CONATEL and of the executive and legislative powers of government and a selection of international experts.
The pledge by CONATEL marks a distinct break from tradition in Latin America, whereby in the vast majority of countries of the region, community or non-commercial broadcasters have not been recognized by law and therefore do not have permits or licenses allowing them to access the airwaves. As a result, and in light of the difficulties in obtaining these permits, many of these stations have decided to broadcast without one, which in practice means illegally, something that UNESCO does not condone and has repeatedly stated that only legal broadcasting can be tolerated and supported. The issue of illegality has been at the root of difficult relations between the region’s community and commercial broadcasters.
In recent years, and to improve the situation, UNESCO has been sparing no efforts to advise national authorities and urge them to seek ways to progressively grant licenses to these type of broadcasters which serve such a vital service to smaller, marginalized or particular sectors of society.
The decision taken by the Paraguayan authorities is very much welcomed by UNESCO and it is hoped that this will pave the way for the other countries of the region to take similar action with the goal of ending the issue of illegality but also, more importantly, granting access to the airwaves and giving a voice to all sectors of society.
As a result of UNESCO’s cooperation with the Paraguayan authorities, the latter have also requested UNESCO assistance in adapting their broadcasting legislation so that the recognition of community radios will not only be by special permit but also go one step further and become enshrined in a new modern and democratic law which they wish to adopt as soon as possible.
Related themes/countries
· Paraguay
· Media Laws: News Archives 2004
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