LTA Freezes Licensing of New TV, Radio Stations in Montserrado

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority has placed an across the board freeze on the licensing of all new television and radio stations in Montserrado County.  

This decision comes in the wake of illegal stations persistently operating within the nation’s scarce spectrum and the interference they create for those who are legitimately in operation. The regulatory body released a list of radio and TV stations in compliance in Montserrado County.

Chairperson Angelique Weeks said, ‘The LTA Board of Commissioners has decided to release this list of those in compliance now to send a message to the public to be forewarned who they engage for broadcast purposes because non compliant stations may be shut down on short notice.’

Twenty-five radio stations are listed and four television stations. Those not on the list include entities which have not renewed their annual license fees despite continuous reminders; also excluded are stations who have never registered with the Ministry of Information or the LTA, but simply erected communication equipment and started broadcasting. The LTA assigns frequencies and issues licenses on an annual basis. Permits are issued by the Ministry of Information prior to licensing and are a prerequisite for licensing.

The LTA’s Commissioner of Engineering Henry Benson says, ‘We are in the process of harmonizing the nation’s spectrum, which simply means, making sure there is uniform allocation of assigned frequency bands across our region in accordance with the specific ICT Function. Clearing the clutter of unassigned radio and television frequency will help ease this process’.

Licensing and Regulations Commissioner B. Anthony Mc Critty, said, ‘We are here to facilitate compliance and make it easy for stations owners to stay operational’, the Commissioner told a group of station operators several weeks ago. “We want to see a healthy, robust radio and television environment, however, we have to be good stewards of our assigned limited national spectrum, there is a waiting list of new stations who want to operate in compliance so we have to move on now, to create an opportunity for them.”

According to a release from the telecom regulatory body, several meetings were held beginning in November 2013 and throughout 2014, to encourage non-compliant stations to get their issues resolved so their audiences would continue to enjoy their programming.   Many stations responded with acceptable payment plans, while others didn’t show up.

The LTA noted in its release that interference from non-compliant stations operating on frequencies that haven’t been assigned to anyone is a major issue for stations that have complied. LTA’s Commissioner of Engineering, Henry Benson, says, “When we assign frequencies to stations, we want them to enjoy what they have paid for without any hindrance from anyone who is not authorized, this is their privilege.”

The nation’s national broadcasting system, the Liberia Broadcasting System, is not subject to licensing fees and thus not listed. See full list below.