[HCDX] Actions against Venezuelan radio stations soon

[Jaisakthivel <ardicdxclub@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Actions against Venezuelan radio stations soon

He rejected reports that the elimination of the radio networks comprising more than three radio stations is intended to uproot live baseball or soccer broadcasts. âEvery rule has an exception,â Cabello said 

Politics
Diosdado Cabello, the Minister of Public Works and Housing and acting director of the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), announced that Venezuelan authorities will begin to implement on July 17 or July 20 the first administrative procedures against all the radio stations that have been using the radio-electric spectrum without authorization.

The official rejected criticisms against this government move. Opposition sectors have suggested that such measures are intended to hide official corruption, Cabello said. "Investigate into anything you want," he added.

The head of Venezuela's telecommunications regulatory agency denied that the government is pursuing monopolization of the radio-electric spectrum. He said that state-run radio stations barely amount to 10 percent in all the country. "Venezuela's Radio Chamber and opposition pundits know that the radio-electric spectrum is concentrated in very few hands. Twenty-seven Venezuelan families control 32 percent of the spectrum," the minister said.

The director of Conatel stressed that his speech in the National Assembly was "transparent." Cabello referred to a hearing where he proposed eradicating radio networks. He denied claims that he suggested revoking licenses. Rather, he insisted that he said that the government would open administrative procedures against several radio stations.

He rejected reports that the elimination of the radio networks comprising more than three radio stations is intended to uproot live baseball or soccer broadcasts. "Every rule has an exception," Cabello said.

GlobovisiÃn
On the case of private-run TV news station GlobovisiÃn, Cabello said "whether they protest or not, we will enforce the laws." The Minister of Public Works explained that GlobovisiÃn's broadcast license was awarded to two people and one of them died. Therefore, the Venezuelan authorities are trying to recover the administration of 50 percent of the TV channel. "They know what we want, because the law is very clear. I know them pretty well. They went to Conatel to cry for more licenses to broadcast. And they are right to attack me because I will never talk to them."

Cabello accused GlobovisiÃn's owners of inciting the government to take the decision of revoking the license of the TV channel. "We will revoke the license if we have to," he warned.

Regarding cable television, Cabello said that to be an international channel, the TV station must have at least 70 percent of international production. If a channel does not reach this percentage, then it is not international, as it is the case of Radio Caracas Television International, which only broadcasts Venezuelan programs.

"We will monitor those "international stations" in order to verify their compliance with national programming and laws," he said.

Translated by Gerardo CÃrdenas
http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/07/16/en_pol_esp_actions-against-vene_16A2505285.shtml
- Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India


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