[kictanet] CCK shuts down illegal broadcast transmitters

[Walubengo J]

@Wambua,


Its nice to see that CCK can finally bite...and the move is long overdue.  Which brings in the burning issue in the blogsphere - Why now? Just like the digital switch off saga, the coincidence with the looming election is something that could and should have been avoided.


One can only wish the axe should have fallen earlier rather than now.


walu.



________________________________
 From: "Wambua, Christopher" <Wambua at cck.go.ke>
To: jwalu at yahoo.com 
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Saturday, February 2, 2013 11:10 AM
Subject: [kictanet] CCK shuts down illegal broadcast transmitters
 

 
Listers,
 
CCK
shuts down unauthorized broadcast transmitters 
 
The
Commission has this morning shut down six Royal Media Services broadcast
transmitters in Nakuru, Narok, Mukuyuni (Makueni) and Mabrui (Malindi) which
were being operated without a licence and using unauthorized or
‘grabbed’ frequencies. 
 
The
six are part of 17 transmitters put up illegally by Royal Media Services in the
recent past without a licence from CCK, and therefore in contravention of the
law.  Some of the transmitters are located in non-designated broadcasting
sites thus causing interferences to other critical services including
aviation.  A further 22 FM and 2 TV unauthorized frequencies that Royal
Media Services acquired in the same manner between 2008 and 2012 are pending
adjudication in the courts. 
 
Section
35 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, outlaws
the setting up and operation of communications apparatus without authorization
from CCK.
 
Addressing
the media today, CCK Director General Mr. Francis W. Wangusi said the illegal
transmitters were causing interferences to broadcasters in Kenya and the
region, and interfering with avionic communication thus threatening the safety
of Kenya’s airspace. 
 
“In
some instance the interferences are so intense that the services of other
broadcasters using duly authorized frequencies have been rendered completely
inoperable,” said Mr. Wangusi.  
 
He
added that the safety of our airspace was under threat as these illegal
transmitters had on a number of occasions caused interferences to communication
between pilots and the control tower at our main airports.  
 
The
Commission shall in the next few days shut down the remaining 11 illegal
stations to ensure that all players in the broadcasting sector operate within
the law. 
 
CCK
is the only state organ charged with the responsibility of managing
Kenya’s frequency spectrum.  Central management of the frequency
spectrum is critical in ensuring orderly exploitation of this scarce and
limited resource, and to avoid interferences among various spectrum users. 
 
All
spectrum users, therefore, are required to operate under a licence issued by
CCK and which must be kept in force through adherence to the operational
parameters stipulated in the licence.  Mr. Wangusi said the grab up of
frequencies had no place in Kenya, where there is an existing institutional
framework in place for managing frequencies.  
 
Unauthorized
use of spectrum amounts to an act of impunity and flies in the face of the
regulatory requirement to provide an equal platform for all players.  It
also denies the regulator of spectrum resources to address the policy
objectives of plurality and diversity, and to cater for devolution requirements
as envisaged in the constitution.  
 
The
full press statement by the CCK Director General is attached. 
 
 
Christopher
Wambua
Manager/Communications
Consumer
and Public Affairs Division 
Communications
Commission of Kenya
P.O.
Box 14448, NAIROBI 00800
KENYA
 
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