The government yesterday issued a warning to the new (drop-line) Cable TV system set up recently in Corriverton to cease operations until it obtains the relevant licence to offer such services.
The warning issued by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who has responsibility for the telecommunication sector also cautioned other recent start-ups or intended start-ups in Linden, Bartica, and elsewhere, according to a press release from the Office of the Prime Minister. It also warned the operator in Republic Park, East Bank Demerara against extending beyond Nandy Park, Providence and Eccles where the service was frozen in 2001; and forewarned those who are planning to offer or are offering radio and television services on the Internet.
“It would be recalled that following a period of `open season’ in initiating television services,” the release stated, “a Joint Committee was set up in mid-2001 to consider the development of a broadcast law to manage all the considerations in approving and licensing applications for broadcast licences, both Television and Radio. It was then decided that until such time as the law is enacted operations in already served areas were frozen.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said that “government intends during this Parliament to enact a Broadcast Law to address all relevant issues and until such time will not tolerate new or extended services, except pursuant to specific decisions in relation to remote, hinterland, hitherto unserved areas.”
The Prime Minister also sounded a warning to anyone who may be transmitting, whether terrestrially and/or by VSAT, to cease and desist from any operations not licensed in accordance with the law. VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology is used for a wide variety of telecommunication applications.
