Local broadcasters register in droves

COMMUNITY RADIO

More than 1,000 community radio broadcasters registered to operate in an hour at the Impact Muang Thong Thani exhibition hall yesterday, when the National Telecommunications Commission opened its registry for the first time.

Prapaphan Boonsalee, a young DJ, hosts a community radio programme broadcast in Pathomsakorn community in Samut Sakhon.

It is expected that a thousand more community broadcasters will have registered when the commission's deadline ends in a month.

NTC's chairman of the working panel on community radio, Col Natee Sukolrat, said more than 2,000 community radio operators attended yesterday's briefing on community radio regulations and licensing.

The NTC is to hold similar briefings in Chiang Mai on June 22, Khon Kaen on June 29 and Songkhla on July 2.

The NTC requires broadcasters register to legalise their operations.

Once registered, they would be allowed to hold trial broadcasts for 300 days when the community radio station regulation becomes effective early next month. The local stations can sell advertising during those initial 300 days.

However, he warned that any community radio stations failing to register by the deadline could face legal action for illegal broadcasting.

To maintain a licence, broadcasters must comply with community radio regulations and be non-profit and without advertisements.

Col Natee said he expected the existing 5,000 community radio stations operating without a licence would dwindle to only a handful for public service and business purposes.