(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ strongly protests the manner in which an official tender of broadcast frequencies was conducted by the Yugoslav Ministry of Telecommunications on 16 May 1998. The result of this flawed tender process has been to deny the right of 178 independent television and radio stations to operate, and to impose exorbitant fees on […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ strongly protests the manner in which an official tender of
broadcast frequencies was conducted by the Yugoslav Ministry of
Telecommunications on 16 May 1998. The result of this flawed tender process
has been to deny the right of 178 independent television and radio stations
to operate, and to impose exorbitant fees on those stations which were
granted frequencies.
**Updates IFEX joint statement of 15 May 1998**
The federal telecommunications ministry announced on 16 May 1998, that it
had awarded broadcast frequencies to 247 television and radio stations out
of 425 that submitted applications. Of these stations, only three
independent stations from the Association of Independent Electronic Media
(ANEM) managed to receive temporary frequencies: Radio B-92, RTV Pancevo and
F Kanal in Zajecar. The other stations granted frequencies were chiefly
those which openly support President Slobodan Milosevic’s government, or
broadcast only entertainment programs.
The ministry has failed to explain why another 178 private stations,
including 38 ANEM affiliates, were denied frequencies, a decision which
effectively bans them. All the members of ANEM submitted identical
applications, yet only three were selected. Radio B-92 alone submitted four
applications, including two for radio frequencies, one for television, and
one for a satellite uplink. Yet it was awarded only one radio frequency.
Furthermore, the ministry has announced it will charge stations that won
frequencies monthly fees for their use that could range from US$12,000 to
$15,000 in local currency. Many station managers who won frequencies have
said they may be forced to refuse them, as the fees exceed their total
monthly incomes.
While CPJ notes the need to regulate the public airwaves, it opposes the
official abuse of broadcast regulations and tenders to restrict independent
media. The government’s decision to impose exorbitant fees on broadcasters
for the use of frequencies also represents an attempt to squeeze independent
stations. The decision to deny licenses to nearly all independent
broadcasters that applied violates all international norms of press freedom,
as well as President Milosevic’s personal pledge, made in November 1996 to
CPJ’s representative Kati Marton, to respect the rights of independent
media.
Recommended Action
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Appeals To
His Excellency Slobodan Milosevic
President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fax: +381 11 656 862
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