The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has announced it will revoke, cancel or reject licenses for FM broadcasting frequencies of 128 broadcasters.
CA is the state’s ICT watchdog that ensures all matters related to ICT are run properly and according to the law.
A notice containing the list of 128 broadcasters was released by the authority on December 22, citing that the entities risk revocation of their broadcast frequencies, cancellation of license Offers and rejection of license applications.
Among those who risk revocation of their broadcast frequencies are Koch FM 99.9, Serian FM 88.9, Rware 101.7 FM , and Western FM, who the CA says are holding expired FM frequencies broadcasting permits that have since expired. This is against the Authority’s regulations.
The CA has also started the revocation of 18 FM radios because they are non-permit holders and are yet to apply for broadcasting licenses. They include Chuka University and Rongo, among 16 others.
The CA has further initiated the rejection of 24 FM radio license applications for commercial and community broadcasting services. The reason for the development is that the applicants have not complied with the related licensing requirements. They include Peace FM, Upendo FM, and Mitume.
The CA also plans to cancel 60 applicants for radio broadcasting licenses because they have not complied with the license offer conditions with the license offer period as prescribed by the watchdog. Some of the affected stations include Capital FM, Radio Umoja, and Hero FM.
Already, the Authority has cancelled 19 applicants who had applied for commercial free-to-air (FTA) television broadcasting licenses but failed to comply with license offer conditions with the offer timeline. The affected stations include Youth TV, Nairobi TV, Bazaar TV, and Pokot TV.
The same cancellation has affected 3 other TV stations that applied for subscription broadcasting service licenses but failed to comply with license offer conditions within the offer timeline. They are Lancia Digital, Raia Television Network, and Qatken Digital.
It is illegal to offer broadcasting services without complying with the details stated in the Kenya Information and Communication Act, 1998.