Spectrum fee reduced for Community Radio stations
Freetown – Following a series of meetings between the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists and the Chairman, Board and other Commissioners and members of the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), the annual Spectrum Fee for radio stations has been halved for community radios throughout the country.
In a reply to a letter written to him by SLAJ, the Chairman of NATCOM Mr Siray Timbo said his Board had agreed that instead of the existing US$ 500, community radio stations would now pay US$ 250 at the official exchange rate in Leones.
“The role community radio stations play in the country and the low income they generate make it unfair to be charged the same amount as commercial and other radio stations,†SLAJ President Umaru Fofana said. He lauded NATCOM for their understanding in reducing the amount for these stations most of which can barely afford to remain on air for six hours a day owing to the huge financial cost of doing so.
SLAJ has also made an appeal to the NATCOM Board through its Chairman to waive the backlogs these stations owe for 2008 and 2009 “which they did not pay because they could not pay itâ€, the SLAJ President went on.
While SLAJ and NATCOM will soon release the names of the beneficiary stations after the latter has vetted the list, the association hereby urges all community radio station managers to strengthen their accountability measures and be more transparent with funds received in the name of their stations.
Ismael Koroma, National Assistant Secretary General, SLAJ
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