<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Without commenting or getting directly
involved on the present situation, as I am not informed enough to do so, I too
am of the opinion that licence fees should be scrapped, as these pose an
unnecessary burden on the underprivileged, who often cannot afford private
radio and television services and should therefore not have to pay for what is
supposedly "public service" broadcasting.<br style="">
<br style="">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">And before anybody points out that public
service broadcasters need to charge licence fees to be able to maintain the
service, let's for this argument's sake assume that they are sufficiently
funded from public funds and from commercial advertisers. Let us also bear in
mind that it is a trend that public broadcasters are bloated bureaucratic
apparatuses with disproportionately high salaries and perks for the top
echelons of the machinery. <br style="">
<br style="">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Could those more versed on the matter
enumerate the exact sections of international instruments that could strengthen
the hand of those fighting for the abolition of licence fees?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br>
The right to information in itself, should do, but looks a bit naked and
malnourished. Instruments with bearing on information are not the only ones
with reference here: information is crucial for development/ health/ education
etc. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I am sure there is enough to be written
into a Free Broadcasting Reception Charter. </span></p>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-GB"><br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
<br>
Rui</span><br>
<br>
<br>
<br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 24/02/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">BNNRC</b> <<a href="mailto:ceo@bnnrc.net">ceo@bnnrc.net</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<div>
<p>
</p><div align="right"><font color="#008080" face="Tahoma" size="5"><b>Bangladesh
NGOs Network for<br>
Radio and Communication<br>
</b></font><font face="Tahoma" size="1">Promoting Communication Technology
for a Fairer World<br>
</font><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><b>----------------------------------------------<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
</b></font></div>
<font color="#0000ff" face="Tahoma" size="5">Campaign on to Waive the
Radio/TV <br>
Using License Fees in Bangladesh<br>
</font><font face="Tahoma" size="5"> <b> <br>
</b></font><font face="Tahoma">Campaign Summery:<br>
A rumor was spread over the country that the Joint forces have been
examining the license of radio and television after formation of the new
Care taker Government and declaration of Emergency Power Rule.
Whether the people could not show the license, the forces are taking the
radio and televisions forcefully or breaking those. <br>
<br>
There were several news on this published in the National dailies and
broadcasted over the channels. BNNRC has been making dialogues with the
government since a long time to waive the fees of license of Radio and
TV.<br>
<br>
<b>Objectives:<br>
</b> <br>
- To leave the license fees of radio and TV using in the changing
situation.<br>
- To formulate a convergence policy regarding the use of information
& communication technology (ICT), telecommunication, Broadband, Cable
TV including radio and television and also <br>
- To establish people's rights in mass media. <br>
<br>
<b>The Story:<br>
</b> At present, a citizen of Bangladesh has to pay Taka. 450 ($
6.7) and Taka. 20 per year for using TV and Radio respectively. Besides,
it was not clear to the concern departments of Government, users or to
civil society what the Government wants through different circulations,
which were circulated in time to time. Some of them said that those who
make license since 2000, they do not need to pay. Another parts said that
those who paid license fee during buying TV/Radio, they also not to need
to do license. Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication
(BNNRC) talked to many officers of many departments but did not get any
clear guideline over this. So, the rumor spread over the country.<br>
<br>
<b>In this context, a young pro-people journalist Mr. Shawkat Milton,
Staff Reporter of ATN - Bangla</b> requested Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, of
BNNRC to give an expert opinion on this regard for ATN Bangla prime
news.AHM Bazlur Rahman commented:<br><br>
1.According to the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933 and 1970 the
Government is now collecting Radio/TV using fees.<br><br>
2.But when the government took that decision, then there was no other
media except Government own Radio and TV.<br><br>
3.Due to globalisation, there are many commercial and community based
broadcasting systems have been operating in the country; it does not have
any logic to collect license fees from the people. Because, the people
are now watching/ listening private channels and private radios as like
as NTV, ATN -Bangla, Channel 1, Channel I, Bangla Vision, Baishakhi, RTV,
Radio Furti, Radio Today etc. So there is no reason to take license fee
only for Watching Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Radio. <br><br>
4.Besides, TV/Radio can be watched or heard by using ICT e.i. Computer,
Laptop, Mobile Phone.<br><br>
5.Firstly, it is not logical to take license fees. Secondly, if the
Government wants to take license fees, then it should be divided among
the fees Public Broadcasting system, Commercial Broadcasting system and
also Community Broadcasting system.<br>
<b>Outcomes:<br>
</b>After broadcasting the interview of Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, The CEO of
BNNRC in ATN Bangla, more than 100 phone calls have been received from
the civil society of the country. The interview was highly appreciated by
different level of society. A Press Note was circulated on that night
from the Press Information Department of the Government and also it
demanded that no this type of responsibility was given to the Joint
forces. It was requested in the press note to hand-over to the police if
anybody again go to examine the license.<br>
<br>
- This was given highly importance in the Advisory Council's meeting
also. Besides this, an amount has to pay by the buyers at the time
of buying Radio/TV. They recommended fixing it for once a time.
Those who bought radio/TV already in the mean time, they should be waived
from license fees.<br>
<b> <br>
The Character:<br>
</b>-ATN-Bangla played a pro-people responsible role broadcasting the
report on such public interest related in appropriate time. <br>
-Through an interview, RAB requested not to believe the rumor. They also
informed that RAB is not involved with this.<br>
-The Advisory Council to the Care-taker Government considered it as a
very important people's agenda.<br>
<br>
<b>End of the Story:<br>
</b>According to vision of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and
Communication (BNNRC) the license system of Radio/TV is an obstacle to
Right to Information of the general people. <br>
<br>
BNNRC hope, Government will free the people from the burden of license
fee and will remove the existing information divide between urban and
rural area. Government will build a knowledge based society what he
promised earlier through WSIS action plan. BNNRC will lead the campaign
in future again.<br>
-By: Ms. Nasreen Ara Begum , Coordinator- Policy Research and
Advocacy of BNNRC<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
</font><font face="Tahoma" size="1">__________________________________<br>
</font><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><b>AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR<br>
Chief Executive Officer<br>
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication(BNNRC)<br><br>
&<br>
Member, Strategy Council<br>
UN-Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN GAID)<br><br>
House: 13/1, Road:2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207 <br>
Post Box: 5095, Dhaka 1205 Bangladesh<br><br>
</b>Phone: 88-02-9130750, 88-02-9138501<br>
01711881647 Fax: 88-02-9138501-105<br><br>
E-mail: <a href="mailto:ceo@bnnrc.net" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">ceo@bnnrc.net</a>, <a href="mailto:bnnrc@bd.drik.net" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
bnnrc@bd.drik.net</a><br>
<a href="http://www.bnnrc.net/" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">www.bnnrc.net<br><br>
<br>
</a></font><div align="center"><font face="Tahoma"> <br>
</font></div>
<p></p></div>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>________________________________________________<br> <br> <br>Rui Correia<br>Advocacy, Human Rights, Media and Language Consultant<br>2 Cutten St<br>Horison <br>Roodepoort-Johannesburg,
<br>South Africa<br>Tel/ Fax (+27-11) 766-4336<br>Cell (+27) (0) 83-368-1214