Mon, Aug 09, 2004 page1

• New regulations here to rule the nation's airwaves

  • By Ko Shu-ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  In a bid to better manage the radio industry, the Government Information Office (GIO) yesterday unveiled a measure to restructure the airwaves and separate the nation's public and private radio stations into three major frequency zones.

  In addition to setting aside a special zone for previously underground stations and school stations, specialized public radio stations will be integrated with other public stations, and private stations providing public services, into one broadcast group.

  Private radio stations providing commercial services will be regulated in a different frequency zone.

  The GIO plans to complete the three-stage restructuring process by the end of next year.

  Radio stations with a high-powered transmitter are currently state-owned. Radio stations with medium transmission power are privately owned, for commercial purposes or public service. Stations with low transmission power include school radio stations and underground radio.

  The first stage of restructuring will address radio stations with medium and low transmission powers. Underground radio stations can start applying for an operation license on Oct. 1.

  In the second stage, radio stations with a high-powered transmitter will have to return some of their frequencies, move channels and reduce their coverage area.

  During the third and final stage, all radio stations with medium or low transmission power must complete changing their channels by the end of March. The GIO hopes to eradicate all pirate radio stations by the end of next year.

  According to GIO Director-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), the restructuring plan for the radio industry will be akin to traffic rules for motor vehicles.

  "While fast- and slow-moving motor vehicles wrestle for the right of way with motorcycles and pedestrians, we hope to see fast-moving vehicles drive on the fast lanes, slow-moving vehicles in slow lanes and pedestrians use the sidewalk," Lin said at a press conference yesterday morning.

  Over 100-plus frequencies, or 10-odd channels, are expected to be made available for systematic allocation after the first stage and second-stage restructuring. "We expect to reclaim 13 frequencies from the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC), in which the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has a 96.95 percent stake, when it tenders out the channels to the public domain by the end of the year," Lin said.

  With the recovery of airwaves from the BCC and restructuring of other public radio stations, the GIO hopes that upwards of 15 new local radio stations will be established.

  The GIO also plans to consolidate specialized public radio stations such as Police Radio Station, National Education Radio and Voice of Han Broadcasting Network into one public broadcast group.

  The group, along with other public radio stations operating in frequencies between 104.4 and 108, will provide four different services broadcast nationwide.

  The four categories are public services (transportation, weather, disaster relief, etc.), multi-function (Hakka, Aborigines, foreign brides, foreign laborers, armed forces and language programs), culture and education.

  Frequencies between 91 and 104 will be reserved for private radio stations providing commercial services. The frequency zone from 88.1 to 91 will be reserved for radio stations with low transmission power, such as legal underground radio stations or school radio stations.
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