by Mark Ramotar
Guyana Chronicle
May 29, 2001
PRIME Minister Sam Hinds yesterday announced that television stations that are operational across the country have a one-month ultimatum to apply for TV licences. At a meeting yesterday with television owners and broadcasters, he also announced a proposed TV fee structure, which will be applied for issuing a television broadcast licence. This proposed fee was generally accepted by television operators and broadcasters at the meeting at the Guyana National Service (GNS) Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown.
Mr. Hinds said a public notice will be issued requiring all persons operating a Wireless Telegraph station or installing or working any apparatus of Wireless Telegraphy in Guyana to apply for a licence in accordance with the Post and Telegraph Act, by June 30.
He said all licences will come into force on or before July 1, 2001.
"We are, therefore, giving all those persons currently owning and operating Wireless Telegraph stations one month to apply for licences," he said.
According to the Prime Minister, Wireless Telegraphy Regulation 21 requires that a licence shall not be issued until the fees have been paid.
He also promised the broadcasters that they will soon be provided with a copy of the Terms and Conditions under which a licence may be granted.
New licence application forms are in the process of being prepared and will be available shortly from his office, Mr. Hinds said.
A prepared fee structure, which will be applied for issuing a television broadcast licence, was circulated to all broadcasters at yesterday's meeting.
The estimated television fee schedule, based on available data, encompassed a number of factors, which included the location of the stations, the height of the antennas and the power (wattage).
The total annual fee based on the National Frequency Management Unit's (NFMU) proposed fee structure for all the existing television stations is as follows:
GWTV Channel 2, Georgetown - $520,000;
STVS Channel 4, Georgetown - $200,000;
TTS Channel 5, Bartica - $60,000;
CNS Channel 6, Georgetown - $520,000;
WRHM Channel 7, New Providence, East Bank Demerara - $1.14M;
Dave's Portrait, Channel 8, New Amsterdam, Berbice - $260,000;
RCA Channel 8, Charity, Essequibo - $210,000;
NBTV Channel 9, Georgetown - $520,000;
LRTV Channel 10/17, New Amsterdam - $500,000;
GTV Channel 11, Channel 15, Channel 25, Channel 13 and Channel 8 at its locations in Georgetown, Berbice, Anna Regina and Linden - $1.19M;
RBS Channel 13, Republic Park, East Bank Demerara - $700,000;
MTV Channel 14, Eccles, East Bank Demerara - $620,000;
HGP/TV Channel 16, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara - $480,000;
NTN Channel 18 and Channel 5, Georgetown and Blairmont, - $1.01M;
VCT Channel 28 and 13, West Bank Demerara, Mahaicony, West Berbice and West Bank Essequibo - $1,156,000;
MBC Channel 42, Georgetown - $160,000;
MMDS in Corentyne - $160,000.
The total annual fee for all the television stations listed above based on the NFMU's proposed fee structure will be $9,406,000.
Mr. Hinds, acting in his capacity as Minister of Communications, last week invited the owners and broadcasters of television stations currently transmitting without a valid licence under the Post and Telegraph Act to attend yesterday's meeting.
He told the broadcasters yesterday that until such time as the government passes new broadcast legislation, broadcast licences are issued under the Post & Telegraph Act Chapter 47:01, Section 63, and are regulated under Section 63 (5) of the Act.
"Our purpose here today, therefore, is to fully brief you on the steps to be taken in compliance with the Act," he told the broadcasters.
"We are not here to discuss future broadcast law, nor, in any way to anticipate or substitute for the work already begun and continuing in the drafting of new broadcast legislation."
He also noted that the regulations published by him on June 11, 1999 prescribing the annual television licence fees to be paid in accordance with the Post and Telegraph (Amendment) Act 1985 (No.8 of 1985) will be replaced by the new fee structure.
"You will see that the fees are extremely moderate and are, in fact, well within the recommendations submitted on behalf of the majority of broadcasters by Spectrum Management Services on 11 April, 1999 for consideration at that time by the National Frequency Management Unit," he said.
Section 63(5) of the Act provides for the minister to prescribe "the terms and conditions under which a licence may be granted".
The regulations currently prescribe only for technical standards to be observed under the licence.
The regulations will be amended to include broadcast programme material standards to be observed and these will generally conform to the Code of Conduct presented to and agreed upon by the media at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) media roundtable held on October 8-10, 2000, Mr. Hinds said.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to draw to the attention of the broadcasters Regulation 32 with regard to the Infringement of Copyright and which provides that "the granting of a licence does not authorise the licencee to do any act which is an infringement of any Copyright which may exist in any matter transmitted or received".
The government is granting the television licences under the current legislation to the end of the year in anticipation of the probability of the introduction of a new broadcasting law by that time.
He also told the broadcasters yesterday that it is the intention of President Bharrat Jagdeo, after appropriate consultation, to appoint a Broadcasting Committee to advise him on the application of and compliance with the statutory requirements of the licence with particular respect to the terms and conditions governing broadcast programme material.
Mr. Hinds also said the NFMU will continue to be responsible for enforcing compliance with the technical standards prescribed in the regulations.
In addition, the government remains committed to accelerating the process of implementing new broadcast legislation, he said.
Some television station owners, including owner of CNS Channel 6, Mr. Chandra Narine Sharma and Mr. Omar Farouk of HGP/TV, commented that the proposed television fee structure is "not bad".