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International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
________________________________________________________________
Date: 26 April 1996

BRAZIL: Proposals to regulate community radio stations meets with
criticism on both sides of issue

ORIGINATOR: The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
(AMARC), Montreal

Source: Inter Press Service (IPS)

The Brazilian government has presented a bill to the Brazilian
Congress that would regulate community radio stations. The bill,
introduced earlier this month, would limit informal radio
transmitters to 10 watts and a range of 400 metres, and would
require that broadcasters be officially licensed as well as have
their content restricted to public service and cultural
information intended to serve the local community.

Community radio stations have proliferated rapidly in recent
years, putting the government in a cross-fire between supporters
of the stations and those who oppose the unregulated use of the
airwaves. In several parts of Brazil, radio and television
business entrepreneurs have accused community radio stations of
damaging the industry by selling low-priced advertising. As well,
the Brazilian Radio and Television Association (ABERT), which
represents commercial broadcasters, has initiated a campaign to
demand order on the airwaves and close down more than 2,000 of
what it terms "pirate" broadcasters. "The government's inaction
on the pirate stations violates the Constitution," declared
jurist and former Justice Minister Saulo Ramos, who spoke out on
behalf of ABERT. For his part, ABERT President Joaquim Mendonca
said that he would only accept the transmissions of community
radio stations if they were closely regulated by law so that
their frequencies and ranges would not affect commercial
broadcasters. This proposal is also included in the bill tabled
by the government in Congress.

In spite of Communications Minister Sergio Motta's comments in
1995 that he supported community broadcasting and his Ministry's
current proposals to regulate it, the community radio
broadcasting community remains suspicious. In reports
disseminated in various media, National Association of Community
Radios president and journalist Nivaldo Manzano accused the
Communications Ministry of closing "dozens of transmitters" daily
in order to keep Brazil at "the margin of the world" in community
radio broadcasting. Manzano added that Brazil was one of the few
countries "where this sort of publicly useful service is still a
matter of police interest." He also stated that community radio
stations were recognized and accepted in many other parts of the
world, rich or poor, and pointed out that those operating in
Brazil were protected by the Constitution's recognition of
private, state and public broadcasting and its prohibition of
monopolies or oligopolies in the communications industry. Manzano
also indicated that the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights
provided support for community or public (as distinguished from
government) radio by defending the right to free expression and
the free circulation of ideas without abusive interference from
either the government or private interests.

For further information, contact AMARC at 3575 St-Laurent, Suite
611, Montreal, Quebec H2X 2T7 Canada, tel: +514 982 0351, fax:
+514 849 7129, e-mail: amarc@web.apc.org, or Bruce Girard,
Avenida America 3584, Casilla 17-01-1171, Quito, Ecuador, tel:
+593 2 525 521, fax: +593 2  542 818, e-mail:
bgirard@pulsar.org.ec, http://www.web.apc.org/amarc/pulsar.html

The information contained in this alert is the sole
responsibility of its originator.
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* IFEX CLEARING HOUSE                                 *
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________________________________________________________
Bruce Girard
AMARC - Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.apc.org/amarc/pulsar.html
Tel: +(593-2) 525-521    Fax/Tel: +(593-2) 542-818
Avenida America 3584, Casilla 17-01-1171, Quito, Ecuador