Colombia. The strengthening of sound broadcasting has been one of the fundamental pillars of Minister Karen Abudinen during 2020. During her tenure, the head of the ICT portfolio declared the viability of 188 organized communities, which at the moment in which compliance with the requirements requested by MinTIC is verified, will be able to become new community radio stations.
Likewise, and for the first time in the history of Colombia, a process was opened for interested parties to participate by sending their expressions of interest in community stations with a differential ethnic focus, where 671 were received throughout the country and the terms of reference were published that officially opened the process that will undoubtedly bring great benefits to the communities. Those interested sent their contributions, suggestions and comments until December 21, 2020.
"The media are necessary channels for our democracy, so with President Iván Duque we designed and implemented strategies that help strengthen them, create new spaces and train them in new technologies. Community, public and commercial broadcasters are the ones who keep communities informed in all the territories of our country, so in 2021 we will continue working to strengthen them even more, "said the ICT minister.
Additionally, Minister Abudinen issued resolution 2757 to update the costs of access to spectrum to promote the equitable use of the sound broadcasting service in F.M. The objective with this new standard is for broadcasters to strengthen their operation in the regions.
For an inclusive radio
On the other hand, after 11 years of having granted concessions for the operation of commercial stations, a new process was opened with the stage of expressions of interest where 4,363 manifestations were received that give way to the studies of structuring and availability of channels for the process in order to allow the country to have more means in this category that provide their services.
From 19 May to 3 July 2020, 671 expressions of interest were received from ethnic communities, distributed as follows:
- 68% (458) were Afro-Colombians, blacks, raizales and palanqueros.
- 32% (213) were from indigenous communities and peoples.
Additionally, on November 12, MinTIC published the draft with the terms of conditions, ready for comments on the future process of objective selection of ethnic broadcasters. These comments will be received until December 21, 2020. It is important to note that the process for these stations will make available 240 channels in 239 municipalities in 31 departments of the country. This means that at the end of the process we will have 240 community stations with an ethnic focus to be tuned in with more Colombian families.
For Minister Abudinen, training spaces are important and thus position Colombia as a benchmark in Latin America and the world. Therefore, during this 2020 the MinTIC held four meetings and multiple training spaces to listen to the needs of the stations and teach new practices or knowledge to the sector so that it is increasingly visible and demonstrate to Colombia its importance to have more integral citizens. Similarly, the ICT portfolio held Radiofest, a nationwide event aimed at community broadcasters, in which more than 25 guests participated and more than 900 people connected.
Measures during the emergency situation
Taking into account that community radio stations were affected by the pandemic, the ICT minister supported the creation of the Law that establishes special payment conditions for community and public interest broadcasters and community television operators that, due to the pandemic, have outstanding balances in favor of the SINGLE ICT Fund, may have a one-time discount of 100%.
In the same vein, the National Government issued Decree 658 and Decree 680 of 2020 with which the payments to be made by the operators of the sound broadcasting service to the Single Fund for Information and Communications Technologies, which represent a value of $ 7,000 million, were deferred until June 2021.
And, last but not least, Deputy Minister Iván Mantilla announced that together with Minister Abudinen they are preparing a resolution that will provide new benefits to community broadcasters. It is a new regime of consideration for community and public interest broadcasters, which would apply from next year with discounts of between 50 and 80% on the obligations they must comply with the Ministry of ICT.
