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/** reg.elsalvador: 25.0 **/
** Topic: Community Radio Action Update **
** Written  7:40 AM  Aug 13, 1997 by cocodaindy in cdp:reg.elsalvador **
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Companion Community Development Alternatives (CoCoDA)

)>ACTION UPDATE<<

SALVADORAN COMMUNITY RADIOS WIN MOST RECENT BATTLE
KEEP UP THE PRESSURE--SIGN PAID AD IN SUPPORT OF
RADIOS!
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AUGUST 12, 1997

On August 5th CoCoDA sent out an ACTION ALERT denouncing reforms to
the Salvadoran telecommunications law (known as Decree #56) passed by
the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly on July 25th and appealing for
people to sign on to a paid ad to be published in the Salvadoran
Press.  The measures in Decree #56, passed by deputies from the ARENA,
PDC and PCN parties, ensured the continued domination of the
Salvadoran airwaves by a small elite and denied space on the FM dial
to community-based, non- profit radios.

The Association of Participative Radios and Programs of El Salvador
(ARPAS), the organization that represents the community radios in
their struggle to attain legal status, began a campaign immediately to
push for the repeal of the law.  Decree #56, presented as benign
reforms intended to improve the telecommunications law, was actually a
smoke screen for measures that entrenched the special interests of a
few Salvadorans.  Upon realizing the implications of decree #56 and in
the face of increasing public awareness (strengthened by the high
profile given to the issue by TV channel 12), support began to erode
amongst the deputies who had initially voted for the legislation.

Yesterday, the President of the Legislative Assembly announced that
decree #56 was declared "inapplicable", that is it was nullified on a
technicality that required the deputies who voted for the legislation
to affirm their support in writing.  When it became clear what Decree
#56 was about and that there was serious public opposition to the
measure, many deputies who had initially voted for the legislation
decided not to sign it again.

***This is a victory for the Salvadoran community radios.  It clears
the way for consideration of the ARPAS-backed reform package that
would amend the telecommunications law, creating norms and reserving
frequencies for community-based, non-profit broadcasting in El
Salvador.  This reform package will guarantee the community radios'
and other non-profit broadcast media's right to operate.

***Now is the time to support the ARPAS-backed amendment to the
telecommunications law.  The reform package has already been passed to
the Ad Hoc Commission (the legislative committee that has been
studying all revisions to the telecommunications law) and will be
debated in the next three weeks.  The issue is scheduled to come to a
vote in 30 days.

SIGN ON TO THE PAID AD TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE SALVADORAN PRESS!

As part of the international community who support free speech and the
contributions of non-profit broadcasting to democracy, we still need
to make our voices heard in support of Salvadoran community radios!
Individuals, radio stations and organizations in the U.S. are
encouraged to sign onto a paid statement that will be published in the
Salvadoran press in August.  Signers are asked to contribute $10 or
more (payable to 'CoCoDA') to help cover the cost.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO SIGN ON, YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND
AGAIN.  If you haven't signed yet, there is an extra week.

THE DEADLINE FOR SIGNING ONTO THE STATEMENT IS NOW MOVED TO WEDNESDAY,
AUGUST 20TH.  Respond by fax: 518/327- 5251;  or e-mail:
<cocodaindy@igc.apc.org>; with your name, title and/or organizational
affiliation, and the dollar amount you will contribute towards the
cost of the ad.  Checks should be sent to: CoCoDA, 609 E. 29th St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46205.

For ARPAS' complete statement on the new reform package to the
telecommunications law or other background information, contact:

Companion Community Development Alternatives (CoCoDA)
609 E. 29th St. % Indianapolis, IN 46205-4199
Tel: 317/920-8643       E-Mail: <cocodaindy@igc.apc.org>

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[DRAFT TEXT FOR STATEMENT TO BE PUBLISHED IN
SALVADORAN PRESS]

Open letter to the Ad Hoc Commission of the Salvadoran Legislative
Assembly:

WE SUPPORT EL SALVADOR'S COMMUNITY RADIOS!

As U.S. citizens who enjoy the services that community, non-profit
media provide in our own communities, we affirm the role that
community radios are playing in El Salvador..  We believe in
democratic rights for all people, and that the right to freedom of
expression demands public access to the airwaves.

We support the amendment to the telecommunications law proposed by
ARPAS to create a space for non-profit, community-based broadcasting
in El Salvador and we encourage the honorable members of the
Salvadoran Legislative Assembly to include the aforementioned
amendment in reforms to the telecommunications law.

** End of text from cdp:reg.elsalvador **

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___________________________________________________
Bruce Girard             Agencia Informativa Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.net/amarc/pulsar.html
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