MAJ Questions Radio Test Transmissions |
Monday, 08 June 2009 00:00 |
The Media Association Jamaica Limited, MAJ, has raised concerns about the manner in which test transmissions are being done by a radio operator who appears not to have been granted a license for commercial broadcasting nor the permit to do test transmissions.
The MAJ Chairman, says with over 20 licensees already operating in the radio market, this issue is not one of opposing a specific entity. “There are issues of public policy, equity in the industry and an understanding of how the rules are being applied”, he said. He also said several other questions emerge as a result of this action. “What is the policy on leasing spectrum? What is the policy on giving up airtime daily for government broadcasts but also paying for using spectrum? What is the policy on test transmissions in the Broadcast Industry? And what is the policy on who is liable, where there is no broadcast licensee, no direct spectrum allocation, but there is a financial breach? I am afraid that the answer may be – the taxpayer – and that would mean your business and ours”, he added. Mr. Allen also encouraged his audience to support the Prime Minister’s push to have the laws of defamation modernised so that they can be used to encourage good governance and greater accountability in public affairs. |