Peru. In the First Session of the Table against Broadcasting Piracy, installed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, MTC, the diagnosis of what is happening in Lima and Callao was presented, as well as a tentative work plan in which the private sector must assume a leading role as an ally of the MTC.
"In the last three years, inspections of illegal stations have increased sixfold and in 2016 there were 3,137 seizures of pirate radios. We are looking for alternatives in the fight against radio illegality and for this we need the private sector to be our ally," said Miguel Arce, director of Control and Supervision of Communications (DGCS) of the MTC, who detailed the pillars on which this new strategy is based for 2017.
"In addition to the interventions, we must give exemplary sanctions to those who use the radio spectrum of pirate radio to advertise, as is the case with parties and mass concerts," Arce added. They would be subject to an administrative sanction of between 10 and 30 ITU; however, due to its recurrence, the criminal sanction becomes more than urgent.
"There is not a single person convicted of committing the crime of theft of the broadcast signal. In the future, we would like the Legislature to generate a modification in the norm and thus classify the crime as aggravated theft because it is scarce resources. This would raise the penalty to 8 years in prison," Arce said.
For now, among other actions, the DGCS has planned to hold 40 forums throughout Peru in order to expose this problem and evaluate the best solutions, such as making interventions on weekends at night and creating awareness campaigns that explain the damages caused by broadcast piracy.
Among the latter, interference in other signals (Internet and telephony) as well as risks to the life and safety of the population stand out. To these are added other economic damages, such as unfair competition against legal broadcasters and the profit caused by the purchase of advertising space.
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