GNBA reissues radio licences to compliant broadcasters

The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) on Friday distributed licences to radio broadcasters who are in full compliance as of December 31, 2016. Operators had to undergo a re-evaluation process as part of efforts by the Authority to reorganise the local broadcasting landscape.
Among those entities present to uplift their licences for the period 2014 to 2016 were Radio Guyana Inc (RGI); National Television Network (NTN) Radio Inc; iRadio Inc (renamed Mix FM); Wireless Connections; and National Communications Network (NCN).
Speaking at the simple ceremony, Chairman of GNBA Board of Directors, Leslie Sobers, explained that licences for 2017 are yet to be issued and the Authority is approaching this with a “little care”. This is so, he noted, because the amendments

to the Broadcasting Act were assented to and became law only in September and contains new provisions including the reconstruction of broadcasting fees.
“We are doing up to 2016 because (the new amendments) would determine also, how we do the licencing for 2017 with the Act having coming into force in September. So, are we going to prorate from January to September under the (2011) Act, and then from September under the new Act; or we just used one fee for 2017 and we start fresh from 2018. Those are the two considerations before the Board, which we will decide upon at our next Board meeting. We have been discussing it, we will continue to discuss it and come to a final position and then move towards licencing for 2017, once we’ve agreed on that,” the Chairman said on Friday.
The 2017 licences will be in accordance with the amended Broadcasting Act, which was done earlier this year.
Last year, the GNBA announced plans of a new commercial zoning system, which attracts separate fees based on the zones for both television and radio broadcasting. This new system was provided for in the amendments to the Act.
The primary zone includes Georgetown, and the areas encompassed in 30 miles of such, at a fee of 2.5 million per annum for radio. The secondary zone inclusive of Berbice, Bartica and Essequibo, will seek to incorporate a fee of $1.25 million per annum for radio licences.
Meanwhile, the tertiary zoning licence inclusive of Linden, Lethem and Mabaruma will go at a fee of $625,000 for radio licences per annum.
According to Sobers, this change was necessary since there were unfair and unreasonable treatment of small and large broadcasters who had to pay the same fees despite operating in different zones.
He noted for example, those broadcasters in Georgetown, who could have transmitted all the way in Berbice and the Essequibo Coast while the small operators in Essequibo and Berbice could only send signals to their region, had to all pay the same base fee.
“So that was a bit unfair and the amendment to the Act sought to correct that and the zones now, we believe, level the playing field… Now, we believe (the new fees) are fair, given the geographic location and the population,” the Chairman posited.
Sobers further asserted that re-issuance of these licences would allay some of the fears previous expressed by broadcasters with the regards to the new Act. “As long as you have reapplied and are in compliance, you will be getting the same frequencies as were operating before,” he added.
On this note, the GNBA Head cautioned that they will now be zeroing in on those entities that are in violation of the Act and fail to comply with same.
There are some broadcasters/agencies that have indicated by virtue of their applications, a disinterest in some frequencies, the GNBA Chairman further revealed.
He said those frequencies will be retrieved and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) is currently overseeing this process.
“There are others who have not used their frequencies in two years and they have indicated the willingness to give them up. NFMU is dealing with that,” he added.
According to Sobers, these works are reflective of the fact that the Authority has been working towards ensuring the rights of Guyanese.
While the Authority only distributed radio licences on Friday, it is expected to do the same with regards to television and cable licences in the coming week. Those licences will also be issued to compliant operators up to the end of 2016.