cyu
5th August 2009, 01:11
Excerpts from http://links.org.au/node/1182
The head of Venezuela's telecommunications agency (CONATEL) and minister of housing and infrastructure Diosdado Cabello announced on August 1 the immediate closure of 32 privately owned radio stations and two regional television stations, because their broadcast licences had expired or they had violated regulations. Cabello said the recovered licences would be handed to the community media.
Decisions are still pending on a further 206 stations.
"The state is simply recovering the concessions that were being used illegally for more than 30 years."
those affected can continue transmitting their programs through the internet as the measure only applies to the use of the state-owned airwaves.
Cabello said that powerful families in Venezuela who had "swindled" the people had acquired many of the radio stations illegally and constituted "media latifundios" (a reference to large, privately owned estates). Twenty-seven families controlled more than 32% of the radio and television airwaves. Many of those affected own 10 to 20 or stations
Under the reforms broadcasting concessions are designated as non-inheritable property
many Venezuelans share little sympathy for the private media due to its role in the April 2002 coup that briefly ousted President Hugo Chavez from power. Private television and radio stations collaborated directly with the coup regime and imposed a media blackout, broadcasting cartoons and soap operas.
Chavez said on August 1 that the 34 stations were operating outside the law and have been recovered and would be handed over to community media.
"radio stations now belong to the people and not the bourgeoisie". He stressed that the people must be the owners of the strategic means of production, and said that the Bolivarian government is also working on the recovery of other spaces.
Community-oriented, non-profit, non-commercial, citizen- and volunteer-run media outlets are a crucial part of the democratic transformation of society that is occurring throughout Venezuela.
Part of this transformation is the understanding of freedom of speech as a positive and basic right. This right includes universal access to a meaningful space for communication in addition to freedom from censorship. Freedom of expression as a positive right provides universal access to the means of communication.
Before Chávez was elected president, participating in community media was a clandestine activity and a victimised form of freedom of speech; homes and offices that housed community radio stations were often raided and operators feared for their lives.
After the failed coup attempt, the government realised how crucial community media is to the people and to the state. It became apparent that the state media cannot be the only alternative to the private media because of its relatively low ratings and its consolidated nature, which make it vulnerable in a coup situation. When Channel 8, the state-run television channel, was taken off the air during the coup in April 2002, most Venezuelans were denied accurate coverage of events. The coup was defeated with the help of community media stations and activists; they rallied their communities to take to the streets and demand their voices be heard.
The head of Venezuela's telecommunications agency (CONATEL) and minister of housing and infrastructure Diosdado Cabello announced on August 1 the immediate closure of 32 privately owned radio stations and two regional television stations, because their broadcast licences had expired or they had violated regulations. Cabello said the recovered licences would be handed to the community media.
Decisions are still pending on a further 206 stations.
"The state is simply recovering the concessions that were being used illegally for more than 30 years."
those affected can continue transmitting their programs through the internet as the measure only applies to the use of the state-owned airwaves.
Cabello said that powerful families in Venezuela who had "swindled" the people had acquired many of the radio stations illegally and constituted "media latifundios" (a reference to large, privately owned estates). Twenty-seven families controlled more than 32% of the radio and television airwaves. Many of those affected own 10 to 20 or stations
Under the reforms broadcasting concessions are designated as non-inheritable property
many Venezuelans share little sympathy for the private media due to its role in the April 2002 coup that briefly ousted President Hugo Chavez from power. Private television and radio stations collaborated directly with the coup regime and imposed a media blackout, broadcasting cartoons and soap operas.
Chavez said on August 1 that the 34 stations were operating outside the law and have been recovered and would be handed over to community media.
"radio stations now belong to the people and not the bourgeoisie". He stressed that the people must be the owners of the strategic means of production, and said that the Bolivarian government is also working on the recovery of other spaces.
Community-oriented, non-profit, non-commercial, citizen- and volunteer-run media outlets are a crucial part of the democratic transformation of society that is occurring throughout Venezuela.
Part of this transformation is the understanding of freedom of speech as a positive and basic right. This right includes universal access to a meaningful space for communication in addition to freedom from censorship. Freedom of expression as a positive right provides universal access to the means of communication.
Before Chávez was elected president, participating in community media was a clandestine activity and a victimised form of freedom of speech; homes and offices that housed community radio stations were often raided and operators feared for their lives.
After the failed coup attempt, the government realised how crucial community media is to the people and to the state. It became apparent that the state media cannot be the only alternative to the private media because of its relatively low ratings and its consolidated nature, which make it vulnerable in a coup situation. When Channel 8, the state-run television channel, was taken off the air during the coup in April 2002, most Venezuelans were denied accurate coverage of events. The coup was defeated with the help of community media stations and activists; they rallied their communities to take to the streets and demand their voices be heard.