The Communications Authority has taken regulatory action against some broadcasters and broadcast service license applicants for failing to meet requirements.
The cancellation of license offers and the revocation of FM frequencies affected, among others, Capital FM and Mbaitu FM. However, this does not mean that the stations are not broadcast.
Broadcasters may hold, subject to certain CA conditions, additional unused frequencies.
The Communications Authority is the regulatory authority for the ICT industry with responsibilities in telecommunications, cybersecurity, e-commerce, broadcasting and postal/courier services.
The AC is also responsible for managing the country’s numbering and frequency spectrum resources.
It is illegal to provide any form of broadcast service without a license issued by the CA.
Violation of this requirement results in a fine not exceeding Sh1,000,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.
The Authority initiated the rejection of license applications for commercial and community broadcasting services by 24 applicants for non-compliance with related license requirements as prescribed by the Authority, such as compensation of outstanding regulatory fees, among others.
Stations include Thayu FM, Radio Waumini and Wega FM among others.
In the review on The standard, AC Director General Ezra Chioba says failure to comply with licensing requirements notified in writing to each listed broadcaster and applicant within 30 days will render that party no longer interested in providing said services.
The Authority will proceed with the revocation of the allocated FM frequency(ies) and the closure of the associated broadcasting services.
Below is a breakdown of what the AC said in its notice.
Revocation of frequency assignments to licensees who have not yet applied for broadcasting licenses
The Authority has initiated the process of revoking the FM frequencies allocated to the 4 broadcasters listed below who are holders of expired broadcast licenses and who have not yet applied for broadcast licenses as prescribed by the Authority in accordance with the Act .
The stations are Koch, Rware, Serian and Western.
Revocation of FM frequencies assigned to non-licensees who have not yet applied for broadcasting licenses
The Authority has initiated the process of revoking the FM frequencies allocated to the 18 broadcasters listed below who are not licensed and have not yet applied for broadcasting licenses as prescribed by the Authority in accordance with the Law.
Affected stations include Rongo, Edge and Ujuzi.
Rejection of commercial and community broadcasting license applications and subsequent revocation of FM frequencies
The Authority initiated the rejection of license applications for commercial and community broadcasting services by the 24 listed applicants for non-compliance with related licensing requirements as prescribed by the Authority, such as compensation of outstanding regulatory fees , among others.
The rejection of applications is accompanied by a notice of revocation of the FM frequencies which are allocated to the applicants.
The stations concerned are Thayu, Radio Waumini and Getu.
Cancellation of license offer and revocation of FM frequencies
The Authority has initiated the cancellation of the license offers to the 60 applicants listed for the broadcasting licenses following their non-compliance with the conditions of the license offer during the license offer period prescribed by the Authority in accordance with the law.
The license cancellation offer is accompanied by a notice of revocation of the FM broadcast frequencies allocated to the applicants.
The stations concerned are Mbaitu FM, Qwetu Radio and Capital FM.
5. Cancellation of License Offers for Free Commercial Television License
The Authority rescinded the license offers for the 19 listed applicants who had applied for commercial free-to-air (FTA) television broadcasting licenses but failed to meet the terms of the license offer within the offer deadline prescribed by the Authority in accordance with the law. .
Cancellation of License Offers for Subscription Broadcasting Service
The Authority rescinded the license offers for the 3 listed applicants who had applied for subscription broadcasting service licenses but had not complied with the conditions of the license offer within the time limit, as prescribed by the Authority in accordance with the law.
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