[cr-india] Bangkok Post : 4500 community radio stations register

[George Lessard]

Bangkok Post : 4500 radio stations register

[excerpt]

More than 4500 community radio stations have registered under a National
Telecommunications Commission scheme to become legal broadcasters.

About 95% of the country's community radio stations have signed up for the
300-day trial licence. Registration closes on Aug 24, Col Natee Sukolrat,
chairman of the NTC's community radio working group, said yesterday.

Stations which did not register by next Monday's deadline but continued to
operate would be considered illegal, he said.

While the commission cannot shut down stations that fail to register, it
could take action against them for illegal broadcasting, he said.

The NTC could file complaints with the police against stations which
operate without a licence and charge them for the unlicensed use of
transmitters and radio frequencies.

Community stations which have registered under the scheme can broadcast
for 300 days but their programme content must not incite political unrest
and violence, offend the monarchy or disrupt social morals.

Breaking any of the conditions could lead to the withdrawal of
broadcasting rights, he said.

...
<http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/telecom/22285/4500-radio-stations-register>