The Ministry of Information and Communication has permitted the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) to run FM stations throughout the kingdom.

According to a report by Kantipur Daily, the RNA will operate 10 FM stations meant to counter propaganda by the Maoist rebels.

The report quoted high level security sources as saying that the RNA will operate four FM stations with the capacity of one kilowatt and six others with the capacity of 250 watt. The ministry has not charged the license fees for registration of FMs. The license charge for an FM station of over 500 watt is Rs 500,000 and of over 250 watt is Rs 100,000.

The RNA had decided to run FM stations during the meeting of the central security committee in June.

There have been several reports of Maoists running mobile FM stations for propaganda of their activities in remote villages.