From USENET: Some pirate stations to be leaglised in Tiawan

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From USENET: Some pirate stations to be leaglised in Tiawan

Post by pcs »

The Government Information Office (GIO) recently unveiled the details of its
proposal to legalize 180 underground radio stations in Taiwan. A
preferential policy will make it easy for pirate radio stations to obtain
licenses and broadcast on 75 radio frequencies that have just recently been
made available.

Telecommunications authorities are rolling out additional 49
mid-range stations and 26 low-transmission spots, while registration for
high frequencies that could provide national coverage is not being made
available. The first screening of applicants will take place in June, three
months after the proposal to expand the number of legal radio stations in
Taiwan to 250 is to be opened for public debate.

Telecommunications officials have asserted that no more frequencies
will remain unused on Taiwan's radio dial, but they have expressed a desire
to reduce the number of broadcasters to 200 by changing the laws and
encouraging mergers between low-frequency radio stations.

Telecommunications Director General Chien Jen-ter called
radio-frequency reform "inevitable" and said proper government
administration of airwaves would have a positive impact.

Meanwhile GIO head Lin Chia-lung officially denied reports that he
has had private contact with illegal radio stations. He cited a government
pledge to provide pirate stations with guidance and assistance. Lin spoke
about the need to maintain an open attitude and powerful management, in
which regulations will remain consistently in force to deter illegal
broadcasting activities.

The GIO, which also publishes this newspaper, made available 100
previously banned frequencies last August as part of a yearlong broadcast
reform scheme to deal with the issue of illegal radio stations. The GIO will
give priority to providing public radio networks with national coverage to
air public service, cultural and educational programming. There are also
frequencies that will be allocated to local governments for use in community
education broadcasting.

The plan is to reorganize the island's broadcasters according to
three frequency zones, in which state-run stations are allowed the highest
transmission frequencies, while commercial stations are mainly given
mid-range frequencies, and community and former pirate stations will get
places in the low-frequency range. According to the government, the
restructuring policy was designed to make the best use of the island's radio
frequencies, which were previously controlled by high-powered public
stations.

In an effort to get most of the pirate stations to qualify, the GIO
outlined four categories of eligible candidates. According to the new
regulations, stations which have never before applied for a license may now
apply as low-transmission or mid-frequency stations. The government favors
merger plans by low-frequency stations that want to form a mid-frequency
station. Mid-frequency stations are provided with incentives to start up
branch operations.

Other policies were put in place to deal with the fierce competition
that is expected to take place between the approximately 200 underground
radio stations in Taiwan, all of which will presumably want to go legit and
obtain proper broadcasting licenses. The GIO announced that it will give
priority consideration to pirate stations that come up with timetables
demonstrating specific plans to merge five or more small stations. Those who
provide proof of previous licensing applications, and illegal stations that
have been on the air for more than 20 years, will be given priority in the
screening process, according to GIO policy.

http://publish.gio.gov.tw/FCJ/current/05031121.html
Best regards,
Marko - PCS Electronics
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