🚀 go-pugleaf

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________

PRESS RELEASE/UPDATE - BRAZIL

6 February 1998

Churches reject bill to regulate radio stations

SOURCE: The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC),
Montreal/Quito

**Updates IFEX alert of 30 January 1998**

(AMARC/IFEX) - According to the Pulsar news agency, Protestant Church
leaders in Brazil asked legislators who adhere to that faith to fight
to amend the bill on radio which is in the final approval stages in
Congress. Also, Dalva de Lurdes Pereira, Secretary of the National
Catholic Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (Asociacion
Nacional Catolica de Radios Comunitarias), said that the 25-watt limit
to be placed on community radio stations' signals is too low.

Stations are asking for at least 50 watts, since a weaker signal would
not be able to get broadcasts past tall buildings and mountains.
Religious stations are also opposed to Article 4 of the bill, which
prohibits community stations from carrying out activities to gain
supporters for a particular cause. However, the largest problem for
radio stations will be the article of the bill which prevents them
from seeking funds for their operations. While larger stations will
continue to be allowed to carry advertising, small radio stations will
have to survive only on community donations.

BACKGROUND:
Thousands of community stations or small broadcasters operate in
Brazil. Several of these are Catholic or Protestant. It is estimated
that two thousand Protestant stations operate in Sao Paolo alone. On
27 January, the Senate's Education Commission approved the bill, which
is on the verge of being approved by Congress (see IFEX alert).

For further information, contact Bruce Girard, AMARC, Av. Atahualpa
333, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador, telefax: +593 2 501 180 or
551 674, fax in Montreal, Canada: +1 514 221 2009, e-mail:
bgirard@pulsar.org.ec. Or, 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.net, Internet: http://www.amarc.org

The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of
AMARC. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please
credit AMARC and Pulsar.

NB: Texto nao disponivel em Portugues.
_________________________________________________________________
 DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION EXCHANGE
 (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
 489 College Street, Suite 403, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
 tel: +1 416 515 9622    fax: +1 416 515 7879
 alerts e-mail: alerts@ifex.org    general e-mail: ifex@ifex.org
 Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________

IFEX - Noticias de la comunidad internacional de la libertad de
expresion
_________________________________________________________________

BOLETIN DE PRENSA/ACTUALIZACION DE ALERTA - BRASIL

el 6 de febrero de 1998

Iglesias rechazan ley de radios

FUENTE: Asociacion Mundial de Radios Comunitarias (AMARC),
Montreal/Quito

**Actualiza la alerta de IFEX del 30 de enero de 1998**

(AMARC/IFEX) - Segun informa la Agencia Informativa Pulsar, los
lideres de la Iglesia Evangelica han pedido a los diputados que
profesan esa religion que luchen para que se modifique el proyecto de
ley de radios que ya esta en sus tramites finales en el Congreso
Nacional. Ademas, la secretaria de la Asociacion Nacional Catolica de
Radios Comunitarias, Dalva de Lurdes Pereira, senalo que el limite de
25 vatios de potencia es insuficiente.

Las radios piden al menos 50, ya que la potencia baja no puede
sobrepasar ni edificios altos y menos cerros. Otro punto al que se
oponen las emisoras de caracter religioso, es el articulo cuarto que
prohibe a las radios comunitarias hacer actividades para ganar adeptos
a ningun tipo de causa. Esto contradice sus objetivos religiosos. Pero
el problema mas grande que tendran que enfrentar estas radios es el
articulo que les prohibe buscar recursos para funcionar. Mientras
todas las grandes radios podran captar toda la publicidad posible, se
supone que las radios pequenas de ANTECEDENTES: En Brasil funcionan
varios miles de radios comunitarias o emisoras de baja potencia.
Muchas de ellas son catolicas o evangelicas. Solo en Sao Paulo se
estima que existen dos mil estaciones evangelicas. El 27 de enero, la
Comision de Educacion del Senado aprobo el proyecto de ley de radios,
ley que esta a punto de aprobarse (ver alerta de IFEX).

Para mas informaciones, comunicarse con Bruce Girard, AMARC, Av.
Atahualpa 333, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador, fono/fax: +593 2
501 180 o 551 674, fax en Montreal, Canada: +1 514 221 2009, correo
electronico: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec, o con AMARC, 3575 St-Laurent,
Suite 611, Montreal, Quebec H2X 2T7 Canada, tel: +514 982 0351, fax:
+514 849 7129, correo electronico: amarc@web.net,
http://www.amarc.org

Esta informacion es responsabilidad de AMARC. Favor de reconocer AMARC
y a Pulsar al difundir esta informacion.

NB: Texto nao disponivel em Portugues.
_________________________________________________________________

DIFUNDIDO/A POR LA OFICINA DE LA RED IFEX
EL INTERCAMBIO INTERNACIONAL POR LA LIBERTAD DE EXPRESION
489 College Street West, #403, Toronto ON M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622   fax: +1 416 515 7879
correo electronico: alerts@ifex.org    buzon general: ifex@ifex.org
sitio Internet: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Bruce Girard Boa         Agencia Informativa Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.comunica.org/pulsar
Fono/Fax: +593-2-501 180 o 551 674
Fax en Montreal, Canada: +1-514-221-2009
Av. Atahualpa 333, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador