Underground Radio Stations

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 003612 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON DEPT FOR EAP/RSP/TC, INR/EAP, EAP/PD FROM AIT KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KMDR TW SUBJECT: Underground Radio Stations ¶1. Summary. In October 2004, the Taiwan Government Information Office announced that a new radio frequency reallocation policy would come into effect to legalize underground radio stations. Although the policy has been in effect for almost a year, underground radio stations that applied for a broadcasting license have not seen any change in their legal status. Because many underground radio stations are partial to certain political parties, an AIT contact attributes the lack of change to the desire of the new director of the Government Information Office, Yao Wen- chi, not to interfere with the year-end elections. The reallocation policy is, however, expected to move forward after the elections have taken place. End Summary. ¶2. A little more than a year ago, the Taiwan Government Information Office announced plans for a new radio frequency reallocation policy. This policy would enable some 200 underground radio stations in Taiwan to apply for licenses to become legalized. Only about one-third of all underground radio stations took advantage of the policy, whereas two- thirds of the stations chose to remain underground. Free from any governmental regulations, it is more advantageous for the stations to remain underground. The advantages include: freedom of broadcast content, no limitations on the amount or type of advertising, and no need to pay royalties or fees for songs broadcast. Neither legal nor underground radio stations need to pay taxes. ¶3. AIT/K discussed the new radio frequency policy with Boss Radio Station Manager Huang Dong-rong. Boss Radio Station, which originated in Kaohsiung as an underground radio station, received its license six years ago. Huang explained to AIT/K that the new policy would not eradicate underground radio stations in Taiwan because stations are able to occupy any frequency available. Huang said legal radio stations would face more competition from newly legalized players in the business. According to Huang, legal radio stations rely heavily on income from advertising, organizing public events for government agencies, and selling time slots. Huang bemoaned that legal radio stations do not receive financial support from government authorities. Further, to be eligible to renew broadcasting licenses, the government forces legal radio stations to abide by regulations and requires them to produce programs that advocate government policies. ¶4. Huang also complained about the lack of law enforcement on underground radio stations. He stated that underground radio stations had collaborated with corrupt government officials to ensure protection for their businesses. Huang also pointed out that some are owned by organized crime syndicates. He had received threats from gangsters after he filed complaints about underground radio stations. ¶5. Comment. Introduction of the October 2004 policy was widely seen as a reward for the pro-green underground radio stations for their continuous broadcast of the March 19, 2004, shooting of then presidential candidate and current President Chen Shui-bian right before the election, which aroused voters' sympathy. However, the reward has not yet panned out as the path towards receiving a license to broadcast has not become easier for either pro-KMT nor pro- DPP underground radio stations. The former director of the Government Information Office, Lin Chia-long, who initiated the policy in 2004, resigned to concentrate on his campaign in the Taichung mayoral election and has since been replaced with a new director, Yao Wen-chi. Boss Radio Station Manager Huang Dong-rong indicated that the new director may have halted the issuing of licenses in order to prevent the policy from interfering with the 2005 elections, which will take place at the end of the year. After the election takes place, the policy should take effect. (Prepared by AIT/K Intern Cindy Chou) End comment. Thiele Paal