(IPYS/IFEX) – The Venezuelan government has opened an investigation of Radio Coro 780 AM station, in the northwestern state of Falcon, for allegedly violating radio broadcasting regulations. The radio station was notified of the investigation in a communiqué signed by National Telecommunications Commission (Comision Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, CONATEL) Director General Jesse Chacon and delivered to […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – The Venezuelan government has opened an investigation of Radio Coro 780 AM station, in the northwestern state of Falcon, for allegedly violating radio broadcasting regulations.
The radio station was notified of the investigation in a communiqué signed by National Telecommunications Commission (Comision Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, CONATEL) Director General Jesse Chacon and delivered to the station on 22 January 2003. The commission is part of the Infrastructure Ministry (Ministerio de Infraestructura, MINFRA), which is responsible for licensing radio and television stations in the country.
Radio station director José Jordán Flores told IPYS that the investigation was launched after a 30 October 2002 inspection of the station. At the time of the routine inspection, CONATEL officials found some faults that were corrected in the two weeks following the visit.
The CONATEL document notified the station that, within ten days, it had to put into service an inactive auxiliary transmitter and present CONATEL with a technical plan applying for a new transmission frequency. The document also advised the radio station that an investigation had been launched.
Jordán considers the inspections carried out in October to be normal procedure. He stated that, at the time, CONATEL allowed the station a reasonable time to make the necessary technical corrections. Nevertheless, he stated that the opening of the investigation is a “disproportionate” measure, because it was initiated before the end of the period allotted to the station to make the required technical arrangements.
Jordán affirmed that the station is up to date in the payment of its taxes. He further stated that the station has maintained a balanced posture and gives coverage to both governmental spokespersons and members of the opposition.
“There was no reason to open an investigation on the basis of technical matters that are simple to correct. In past occasions, inspections have been made and any technical flaws that were found have been corrected,” said Jordán.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– asking that measures be taken to ensure that the investigation adheres to the letter of the law and due process is followed
– urging them to ensure that the proceedings do not turn into an attempt to hinder freedom of expression in Venezuela
Appeals To
Diosdado Cabello
Infrastructure Minister
Tel: +58 212 509 36 00
Fax: +58 212 509 10 51
Isaías Rodríguez
Attorney General
Tel: +58 212 509 80 54
Fax: +58 212 576 44 19
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