Funferal

Community radio update: Nigeria, Kenya, UK

A report today from Nigeria where the Information Minister is placing community radio at the center of plans to liberalize the airwaves:

The Minister, who was elated by the timely submission of the Committee’s report, identified Community Radio as one of the most cost effective media for reaching the grassroots population, opening the democratic space and reiterated that community radio would enrich the industry by providing alternative options for people to access information and express themselves. “This is the reason why government is committed to liberalizing the airwaves, to broaden the broadcast space,” he said.

Over on the east coast of Africa, the World Social Forum is taking place at the moment, and several UC-IMC members are taking part. Among the projects are the building of low-power radio stations which will remain in Kenya after the WSF wraps up – with one to be run by rural community groups, and the other by student groups.
Up north, in the UK, a community radio group is experiencing the frustration of dealing with OFCOM bureaucracy. While the station has just completed a 28-day temporary license, they are unable to apply for a full-time license until OFCOM decide to advertise for such, something that has not happened to date – an all too common problem for community radio activists, not only in the UK.
Which reminds me that a window for full-power non-commercial stations is due to open up in the United States in coming months, the last opportunity (at least in the foreseeable future) for such stations to come on air. Prometheus is gearing up for this, and looking to help those interested in applying – an invaluable resource for anyone interested.