The independent radio broadcasters of the country have protested the government’s bid to introduce the broadcasting authority ordinance saying it is an attempt the curb the independent radios of the country.
A joint press statement issued by Broadcasting Association of Nepal (BAN), Kathmandu Valley Broadcasting Forum (KVBF) and Community Radio Broadcasting Association (CRBA) said the government has prepared a draft ordinance, which has the provisions for increasing the license fee of FM radios by 20 to 40 times and also increasing the annual license renewal fee.
These associations condemned the proposed ordinance, saying it is “intended to curb independent radios”.
As per the new provision, the registration fees of FM radio stations with capacity of 50 watts will be hiked to one million rupees from 25 thousand rupees. Similarly the registration fees of FM station of 100 watts, is proposed to be hiked to two million rupees from 50 thousand rupees, FM station of 500 watts have to pay four million rupees, which was two million before the amendment.
FM station with capacity of 1000 watts have to pay five million rupees as registration fees, and 10 million rupees for FM stations over 1000 watts. As per the existing rules, FM stations with capacity of 1000 watts or above have to pay five million rupees.
They have demanded that the government refrain from enforcing the ordinance and have warned of serious consequences if their concerns are not heeded.
“It is natural to doubt the motive behind the bid to introduce yet another ordinance by a government that has been trying to control independent radios through orders, directions and ordinance and even physically attacked some radio stations,” the statement adds.
However Spokesperson of the Ministry of the Information and Communications (MoIC) Ratna Raj Pandey told Nepalnews on Sunday that the Ministry has just initiated the discussion about the forming an broadcasting authority to systematize the broadcasting institutions.
“The discussion has just started, so we will hold extensive discussion in this regard, before forming such an institution,” he said.
He refuted the claim that the MoIC has proposed massive hike in the registration and renewal of license fees for FM radio stations.
Talking to Nepalnews, General Secretary of Kathmandu Valley Broadcasting Forum, Ghamaraj Luintel, said that MoIC has called them on Friday to discuss the proposed Ordinance.
According to Luintel, the representatives were not given the copy of the draft saying the ministry does not have time to discuss the draft with radio representatives.
Luintel further said that they protested the move of the MoIC to invite them just for representation.
He added that if the government is forming the Broadcasting Authority with good intention, there should be sufficient discussion with the stakeholders in this regard. He said that they had seen hike in the registration and renewal fees in the proposed Ordinance.
The Supreme Court is examining a number of cases related to media ordinance enforced by the government on October 9, which puts fresh curbs in independent media of the country.