Argentina. Martín Sabbatella will convene a new meeting of the board of directors of the Federal Authority for Audiovisual Communication Services, to promote a series of initiatives that aim to continue strengthening the development of community media in the country.
Within the framework of this meeting, the recognition of the community character of around 50 non-profit radio stations will be promoted. If this resolution is approved, the recognized media will have a preferential score when participating in future public licensing competitions and, in the case of the stations included in Resolution 753/06, they will obtain the spectrum reserve provided for in article 89 subsection f) of the Law on Audiovisual Communication Services.
The initiative arises from a recommendation made by the Public Defender's Office, in which afSCA was suggested to grant recognition to the Community Radio La Ranchada de Córdoba. In response to this request, the body chaired by Martín Sabbatella prepared a resolution that extends the measure to all stations of this type, in accordance with the principle of equality before the law and within the framework of the inclusive policies promoted by the Law on Audiovisual Communication Services.
On the other hand, at the same meeting the approval of new winners of the Competitive Development Fund for Audiovisual Media (FOMECA) for a total of 40 million pesos is expected. These are different lines of financing for projects that participated in different categories such as: management of community media, equipment for radios, production of radio content and audiovisual content for producers and communication with identity for communities of indigenous peoples.
Among other items that are also part of the agenda of the next meeting, the directors of AFSCA must decide to approve the list of Events of Relevant Interest, prepared by the Federal Council for Audiovisual Communication (COFECA), to be transmitted in 2016.
