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------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
To:            (Recipient list suppressed)
From:          IFEX Clearing House <alerts@ifex.org>
Subject:       Guatemala alert (Reform Radio Legislation)
Date:          Tue, 10 Feb 1998 13:51:31 -0500


IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________


ALERT - GUATEMALA

February 10, 1998

APG Calls for Reform to Radio Broadcasting Legislation

SOURCE: La Asociacion de Periodistas de Guatemala (APG), Guatemala
City

(APG/IFEX) - According to information from the CERIGUA news agency,
APG has released a statement in which it calls for reform to
legislation currently in force in the area of radio broadcasting in
order to avoid the possibility of monopolies. There is a concern that
the Guatemalan government will be acting unconstitutionally in
attempting to turn over radio frequencies as private property.

According to APG, decree law 433 of the Radio Broadcasting Law
establishes that "The State control over frequencies and channels used
in radio broadcasting, is inalienable and imprescriptible, and it can
develop it for its own use or to be handed over for private use, in
accordance with the provisions of this law".

By turning over the frequencies as private property, the Government
"is contravening another constitutional mandate which prohibits
monopolies, in order to encourage individuals, or legal persons,  of
economic power to monopolize the radio spectrum".

Nonprofit organizations and rural communities will not be able to have
access to a radio frequency due to a lack of financial resources , and
according to APG it is appropriate that the Government suspend the
handing over of  property titles to radio frequencies.

APG is calling on the public to open a debate on this subject, which
is of concern to the general population.

For further information, contact Ileana Alamilla, APG, in care of:
CERIGUA, 9a. calle "A" 3- 49, Zona 1, Guatemala City, Guatemala,
tel/fax: +502 2325519 and 502 253 6670, e-mail: cerigua@guate.net

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of
APG. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please
credit APG.
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IFEX - Noticias de la comunidad internacional de la libertad de
expresion
________________________________________________________________ NB:

ALERTA - GUATEMALA

El diez de febrero de 1998

Reformar legislacion en radiocomunicacion, plantea APG

FUENTE: La Asociacion de Periodistas de Guatemala, (APG), Ciudad de
Guatemala

(APG/IFEX) - Segun informa la agencia CERIGUA, la APG plateo en un
comunicado que se debe reformar la legislacion vigente en materia de
radiocomunicaciones para evitar la posible existencia de monopolios.
Existe la preocupacion de que el Gobierno de la Republica vaya a
incurrir en una inconstitucionalidad al pretender entregar, en calidad
de propiedad privada, las frecuencias radioelectricas.

El decreto-Ley 433, de la Ley de Radiocomunicaciones, establece que
"El dominio del Estado sobre frecuencias y canales utilizables en las
radiocomunicaciones, es inalienable e imprescriptible, y puede
explotarlos por si o ceder el uso a particulares, de acuerdo con las
prescripciones a la presente ley", acoto la APG.

Asimismo, el comunicado apegista senala que al entregar en propiedad
las frecuencias, el gobierno "contraviene otro mandato constitucional
que prohibe los monopolios, al fomentar que personas individuales o
juridicas de alto poder economico acaparen el espectro radiofonico".
Agrupaciones civicas no lucrativas y comunidades rurales no podran
accesar a una frecuencia radial por su carencia de recursos
financieros, segun la APG, al considerar oportuno que el Ejecutivo
suspenda la entrega de los titulos de propiedad de las frecuencias
radioelectricas.

La APG llamo la sociedad a abrir un debate sobre este tema, que atane
a toda la poblacion en general.

Para mas informaciones, comunicarse con Ileana Alamilla, APG,
direccion provisional:  CERIGUA, 9a. calle "A" 3-49, Zona 1, Guatemala
City, Guatemala, tel/fax: +502 2325519 and 502 253 6670, correo
electronico: cerigua@guate.net

Esta informacion es responsabilidad de la APG . Favor de reconocer a
la APG al difundirla.
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Bruce Girard Boa         Agencia Informativa Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.comunica.org/pulsar
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