🚀 go-pugleaf

**** ****** ****** **   **
 **  **     **      ** **
 **  *****  *****    ***           COMMUNIQUE # 4 - 47
 **  **     **      ** **          4 December 1995
**** **     ****** **   **
International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
_________________________________________________________________


COLOMBIA: GOVERNMENT GRANTS 1,000 COMMUNITY RADIO LICENSES

The Colombian Ministry of Communications announced in September
that it is granting 1,000 licenses to community radio stations,
according to "InteRadio", the newsletter (Vol. 7, No. 2) of the
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC). Maria
Victoria Polanco writes that the licenses are to be issued as a
result of the law on community broadcasting that was passed in
August. The move is also a product of "the country's growing
community radio movement, which began over ten years ago." AMARC
says the stations were to be chosen through suggestions by
Colombian organizations. The stations are to broadcast on the FM
band with up to 250 watts of power and are permitted to broadcast
24 hours a day, with up to 15 minutes an hour of commercial
advertising. Non-profit groups must operate community radio
frequencies, which are granted for ten-year periods. Polanco
writes, "This development represents an important achievement for
both the Colombian community radio movement and the country's
communication policy."

________________________________________________________
Bruce Girard
Email: bgirard@pi.pro.ec or amarcbg@web.apc.org
Tel: +(593-2) 525-521    Fax: +(593-2) 542-818
Avenida America 3584, Casilla 17-01-1171, Quito, Ecuador