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Frequency overlap mars service
- Govt officials pass buck to FM stations
KATHMANDU, JUN 26 -
The government’s failure to maintain appropriate difference in radio frequency while issuing licences to Frequency Modulation (FM) radio stations has hit broadcasting.
The failure to maintain the required difference has not only led to the problem of frequency overlap but also left the FM stations insecure as their access to the public has been limited. The problem exacerbated after the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) began issuing FM licences to many stations indiscriminately three years ago.
“There needs to be at least 600 kilohertz (kHz) difference of frequency between two FM stations for smooth and unhindered broadcast,”said Bishnu Hari Dhakal, Chairperson of the Broadcasting Association of Nepal. “But the government has issued licences with 200 kHz difference. This is the main reason behind frequency overlapping.”
According to International Telecommunication Union categorisation, Nepal falls under region III and is required to provide FM frequency licences ranging between 87.6 MHz and 108 MHz. Around 34 FMs can be operated in Kathmandu Valley, maintaining 600 kHz difference between two stations. However, MoIC has permitted 43 stations of which 39 are in operation. There are many such cases in Tarai districts.
The difference between the Valley-based Newa FM 106.6 and Radio Namo Buddha 106.7 is 100 kHz because of which the transmission is weak, say experts. There are many FM stations having frequency difference of just 300 to 400 kHz. Radio Upatyaka 87.6, Radio Masti 87.9, Image FM 97.9, Keeps FM 98.3, Radio JCMC 106.0 and Radio Audio 106.3 are examples.
“The frequency distribution is done under political pressure as well as financial influence,”said Min Bahadur Shahi, chairperson of the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal (ACORAB). “The government has said it will not distribute licences in the Valley and some Tarai districts, but it is not keeping its word.”
Besides, FM stations with higher power are adversely affecting the ones with less power.
Dhakal said that Image FM 97.0 operating in Eastern region is 2 kilowatt (KW) which is affecting the operation of Partidhoni FM at Daman which has the same frequency but with only 100 KW. Similar is the case with Dhading FM, Bihani FM and Radio Saligram.
Experts say an FM station with 500 KW power can cover the whole Valley. Nevertheless, many FM stations are operating in the Valley with 1000 to 2000 KW power, which also is causing problems.
MoIC officials, however, do not buy this argument. “The problem created by the FM stations themselves,”said Surya Bahadur Rawal, Joint Secretary at the MoIC. Rawal said stations can use bandwidth from 75 to 80 FM but they are using up to 200 bandwidth. “This is the main cause of the problem.”
MoIC spokesman Narayan Prasad Regmi said, “The ministry will do the needful to check the problem.”
Posted on: 2010-06-27 08:57
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