Mexico. The Federal Institute of Telecommunications, IFT, resolved in its XIV Ordinary Session, to grant the first concession to use and take advantage of frequency bands of the radio spectrum to provide broadcasting service, as well as a single concession, both for Afro-Mexican social use, in favor of Coconatu Colectiva de la Costa de Oaxaca Na a Tundaa, A.C.
Article 2(C) of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States recognizes indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples and communities as part of the multicultural composition of the Nation and recognizes, inter alia, the rights to self-designation, self-determination, autonomy, development and social inclusion. According to the 2020 Population and Housing Census, 2% of the country's total population identifies as Afro-Mexican.
These concessions are granted in compliance with the amendment of Article 87 of the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law (LFTR), which considers the Afro-Mexican modality within the concessions on the radio spectrum for social use to provide the broadcasting service. This modification was made on April 1, 2024, by the Congress of the Union, which modified articles 67, third paragraph of section IV; 85, third paragraph; 87, second and third paragraphs and sections I, II and III; 90, fifth and sixth paragraphs, and 237, section III of the LFTR to include the Afro-Mexican population in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.
The radio service will be offered on the 107.3 MHz frequency and call sign XHSCMW-FM in San Marquitos, Villa de Tututepec, Oaxaca. This project, which is administered by a network of women communicators and leaders of the Afro-Mixtec people settled in San Marquitos, Villa de Tututepec, Oaxaca, has the following main purposes:
I. Implement a radio space with a multicultural and linguistic approach to the Afro-Mexican people and the Mixtec community, since the roots of the Afro-Mexican collective have indigenous origins;
II. Strengthen the black Mixtec identity, decolonization, and raise awareness of ethnic violence;
III. To create a media outlet that influences public policies in favor of Afro-Mexican and indigenous women; and
IV. Professionalize the members of the collective as women radio broadcasters.
This constitutes a watershed in the actions implemented by the IFT to promote broadcasting projects for Afro-Mexican social use, which give visibility to these communities in the media.
The project of the association Coconatu Colectiva de la Costa de Oaxaca Na a Tundaa, A.C. will contribute to the empowerment and inclusion of Afro-Mexican women from a gender equality perspective.
Yolanda Camacho Calleja, associate and legal representative of the concessionaire, commented that "Afro-Mexican Voices" gives voice to its people and revitalizes its history and identity. "Our radio has begun to be the vindication and resilience of those of us who are children of the generations that began our history. This concession greatly strengthens our culture, opens the doors to media that we never thought we would reach and is the result of our historical struggle. We are very happy, because with "Afro-Mexican Voices" we are going to have a voice," she emphasized.
Camacho Calleja pointed out that in this process the support they received from the IFT staff was of great importance to complete the procedure to obtain the concession title. "The IFT had all the will to work to achieve the concession, therefore, "I would recommend to the Afro-Mexican brothers who want their concession to approach the IFT to request it and thus make our culture known," he said.
This request was submitted within the framework of the Program for the Promotion and Promotion of Community and Indigenous Radio Broadcasting 2023 (Pro Radio) implemented by the IFT with the aim of achieving direct interaction with various communities in the country to promote the development of social radio projects, including community and indigenous media and, now, Afro-Mexican. Through Pro Radio, the IFT gives workshops and advice on the requirements to submit a concession application and receives applications, through temporary parts offices installed in the localities visited.
As part of Pro Radio, the IFT has visited this year the towns of Altotonga, Cuitláhuac and Yanga, all in the state of Veracruz, and the Municipality of San Nicolás de Maldonado, located in the south of the state of Guerrero on its border with Oaxaca, locations where Afro-descendant communities were identified, and in which personnel of this Institute communicated the benefits of community broadcasting. indigenous and Afro-Mexican in the development and vindication of their rights. As a result of the visits, more applications for concessions for Afro-Mexican social use were received, and this is the first to be granted.
With these actions, the IFT accounts for its work and commitment to increase coverage in the broadcasting sector of community, indigenous and Afro-Mexican social media, which is reflected in the historical balance of the granting of concessions from its creation until May 29, 2024, with a total of 455 concessions for social use. 170 for community social use, 31 for indigenous social use and 1 for Afro-Mexican social use.
