Communications Authority issues revocation notice for Capital FM, NRG and 60 others

Capital FM, NRG Radio, One FM, Mbaitu FM are among 60 radio frequencies that risk being cancelled by the Communications Authority of Kenya.

In a notice dated December 22, CA Director-General Ezra Chiloba noted that the decision was arrived at after the broadcasters failed to comply with the license offer within the offer period as prescribed by the Authority and in accordance with the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998.

“Take notice that the Authority has commenced regulatory actions against the following listed broadcasters and applicants of broadcasting service provisioning licenses for failure to comply with the relevant requirements as provided for in the Act,” Chiloba stated.

The Authority further said that failure to comply with licensing requirements as notified in writing to each broadcaster and applicants listed in the notice within 30 days will imply that the affected party is no longer interested in providing the said broadcasting services.

The 60 applicants for radio broadcasting licenses, who failed failure to comply with the license offer within the offer period as prescribed by the Authority include Qwetu FM, Radio Amani, Capital, NRG Radio, One FM, Real-time, Mbaitu FM, Radio Umoja, Wajir Radio, Simba Fm, Egerton, MMU M, Hero Fm, Kakuka FM, Thiiri FM, Syokimau, KU 99.9 FM among others.

The Act provides that a transition period for broadcasting permits granted by the Government to the licensing regime administered by the Authority.

"...and as such, the Authority shall proceed to revoke the assigned FM frequency(s) and shut down the associated broadcasting services without further reference to the broadcaster or the applicant," the notice read.

CA listed four broadcasters who are holders of expired broadcasting permits and are yet to apply for broadcasting licenses as prescribed by the Authority in accordance with the Act.

They include Koch FM, Reto Women Association, Rware Community Multimedia Centre and Western Media Services Ltd.

The 18 broadcasters who have been listed as non-permit holders and are yet to apply for broadcasting licenses include Ataaba, Chuka University, Haki FM Limited, Hometrack, Neemali, Jokanyo, Kipkaa, Mawen, Media 1, Misoft, Mwarima FM, Qoolly, Ron, Redeemed, Rongo, Ujuzi, Edge, Cornerstone among others.

Chiloba further listed 24 applicants for failing to comply with related licensing requirements as prescribed by the Authority such as clearing outstanding regulatory fees among others.

These are Radio Mikayi, Thayu FM, Getu Fm, Mitume, Kimuri, Radio Tumaini, Osotua, Radio Rise , Bayana FM, Wega FM, Peace FM, Thome , Radio Waumini and Sogot FM among others.

"The rejection of the applications is accompanied by a notice of revocation of the FM frequencies that are assigned to the applicants,” reads the notice.

Television stations were also not spared as nine applicants who had applied for Commercial Free-to-Air (FTA) Television broadcasting licenses but failed to comply with license offer conditions within the offer timeline as prescribed by the Authority were also listed.

These include Shade TV, Ene TV, Youth TV, Nairobi TV, Pokot TV, Bururi TV, Smart TV, Three Stones TV, Mother & Child TV and Bazaar TV among others.

Edited by D Tarus