Politics
July 13

Govn't to control 58.57% of radio-electric spectrum
In order to "democratize the radio-electric spectrum" and "do away with large ownership in the radio," the shutdown of radio stations disclosed by Minister of Public Works and Housing Diosdado Cabello will mean the control of the radio spectrum by community and state stations.

In accordance with the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), there are 1,004 AM and FM radio stations in Venezuela, including 656 in private hands, 243 community stations and 105 state-owned stations.

Upon the shutdown and transfer to government hands of 240 radio stations, presently in private hands and which, according to Conatel, failed to update their data in a recent census, community and state-run stations will total 58.57 percent of the whole broadcast spectrum.

According to Conatel, 125 out of the 416 remaining private radio stations (41.43 percent) have troubles with tax payment. As a result, they are prone to be added to the red government circuit. If all that was not enough, Conatel will ascertain whether the data supplied by the holders of the radio networks meet all the requirements set forth in the Organic Telecommunications Law if they are to continue operations.

July 15

Congress to back govn't in the event of terminating broadcast licenses
The National Assembly (AN), controlled by pro-government Socialist United Party of Venezuela (PSUV), is determined to back the Executive Office if it decides to reverse the broadcast licenses of 240 radio stations and 45 TV channels, reported an official press release on Wednesday.

The Parliament patted on the back of Diosdado Cabello, the head of the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), who stated in a report that "27 families own in a privileged way more than 32 percent of the radio-electric spectrum, which shows the existence of a media large ownership," AFP quoted.

Last week, Conatel disclosed that 240 Venezuelan radio stations and 45 TV channels failed to update their data, as instructed by the government and, therefore, could lose their licenses.

Attorney General Office subpoenas 10 Globovisión employees
The Attorney General Office served on Wednesday, July 15 ten notices for workers of private news TV channel Globovisión to appear as witnesses in an investigation into the channel for the comments made by journalist Rafael Poleo in the show "Aló Ciudadano" (Hello, Citizen!) last October.

Perla Jaimes, the channel legal counsel, appeared for the second time at the Attorney General Office to give testimony, together with co-workers and reported that all of the 10 employees will attend the summons.

The journalists should appear at the Attorney General Office next July 22-23.

Public prosecutor Deisy Bolívar served the notices and also requested the personal data of the reporters responsible for coverage of the search of the property of Guillermo Zuloaga in eastern Caracas. Zuloaga is the owner of Globovisión.

July 16

Actions against Venezuelan radio stations soon
Diosdado Cabello, the Minister of Public Works and Housing and acting director of the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), announced that Venezuelan authorities will begin to implement on July 17 or July 20 the first administrative procedures against all the radio stations that have been using the radio-electric spectrum without authorization.

The official rejected criticisms against this government move. Opposition sectors have suggested that such measures are intended to hide official corruption, Cabello said. "Investigate into anything you want," he added.

The head of Venezuela's telecommunications regulatory agency denied that the government is pursuing monopolization of the radio-electric spectrum. He said that state-run radio stations barely amount to 10 percent in all the country. "Venezuela's Radio Chamber and opposition pundits know that the radio-electric spectrum is concentrated in very few hands. Twenty-seven Venezuelan families control 32 percent of the spectrum," the minister said.

Globovisión
On the case of private-run TV news station Globovisión, Cabello said "whether they protest or not, we will enforce the laws." The Minister of Public Works explained that Globovisión's broadcast license was awarded to two people and one of them died. Therefore, the Venezuelan authorities are trying to recover the administration of 50 percent of the TV channel. "They know what we want, because the law is very clear. I know them pretty well. They went to Conatel to cry for more licenses to broadcast. And they are right to attack me because I will never talk to them."

Cabello accused Globovisión's owners of inciting the government to take the decision of revoking the license of the TV channel. "We will revoke the license if we have to," he warned.

Regarding cable television, Cabello said that to be an international channel, the TV station must have at least 70 percent of international production. If a channel does not reach this percentage, then it is not international, as it is the case of Radio Caracas Television International, which only broadcasts Venezuelan programs.

July 17

Venezuelan journalists: Govn't is to censor radio stations
Alonso Moleiro, the Vice President of the Venezuelan Journalists' Association (CNP), said that the government's alleged intention to "democratize the radio-electric spectrum," is actually meant to censor radio stations nationwide.

"The intention is to eliminate some radio anchors -a group of well known people that voice opinions and political views that disturb Venezuelan authorities. No government is going to concede that it is a censor. They are disguising censorship as democratization of the media," the journalist said.

Moleiro described as "fallacious" the government's rationales to launch administrative procedures against several radio stations.

"It is not true that the radio networks are monopolies, and that they belong to one single family. They are local radios that have united voluntarily to maximize programming."

Owner of private TV channel is charged with two counts
Guillermo Zuloaga, the CEO of private news TV channel Globovisión, appeared on Friday, July 17 at the Attorney General Office, which ratified his prohibition to leave the country. The Attorney General arraigned Zuloaga on two new charges.

Zuloaga was indicted for ganging up and alleged usury on the case of the vehicles that were seized at his property in Los Chorros, a neighborhood located in eastern Caracas.

He explained that there are not legal grounds for these charges. Zuloaga also said that the Institute for the Defense of People in the Access to Goods and Services (Indepabis) acknowledged on Thursday that both the business and the companies are legitimate. He considers that the government wants to "bother" him.