Three pirate radio stations raided; stations urge revision of press and communications legislation

Sources: AMARC-URUGUAY, Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency On the morning of 16 June 1996, the National Communications Agency (Direccion Nacional de Comunicaciones) raided three community radio stations (El Puente FM, FM Alternativa y Emisora de la Villa) operating illegally out of the living room and dining room of a private home, and out of […]

Sources: AMARC-URUGUAY, Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency

On the morning of 16 June 1996, the National Communications Agency
(Direccion Nacional de Comunicaciones) raided three community
radio stations (El Puente FM, FM Alternativa y Emisora de la
Villa) operating illegally out of the living room and dining room
of a private home, and out of a small neighbourhood sports centre.
The radios’ broadcasting equipment was not taken, as it is kept
elsewhere, but authorities seized antennae, antenna wires and
other equipment. Despite the seizure, the three pirate radios are
still operating.
The National Communications Agency, an arm of the Ministry of
Defence, is responsible for administering permits to radio and
television broadcasters. Small stations with weak signals — such
as community or alternative radio stations — are not covered
under existing legislation.
The three pirate stations (all members of AMARC) are asking for
their legal status to be recognized in view of the support of the
citizens and local organizations in their neighbourhoods.
According to a statement released by the three stations, “the
[agency’s]… actions are based on a policy which restricts
freedom of expression.” The three broadcasters are seeking a
review of press laws and communications decrees which became law
under Uruguay’s dictatorship, urging that new legislation take
into account “a new concept of radio [which includes]… community
and cultural stations which provide a means of communication for
all sectors of society.”

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