Dear Editor,
From the perspective of telecommunications/broadcasting, it is extremely important that everyone ought to be interested in what is available, or has been allocated by the NFMU, or is in use in the ‘airwaves sector.’ To me it is analogous to land distribution and must be done in a fair, equitable and transparent manner.
We have heard that the airwaves (the electromagnetic radio spectrum) is a limited national resource (although the digital compression of frequencies may have changed that somewhat), and it must be managed efficiently and effectively. The mission statement of the National Frequency Management Unit calls for, inter alia, transparency and thus in the interest of transparency could the NFMU say who is allocated or operating on what frequency in Guyana for radio and television broadcasting or over the air cable broadcasting and what frequencies are available for allocation?
Specifically in the case of Linden, the records of the NFMU and its predecessor under the Guyana Telecommunications Corporation (GTC) should be able to answer who had the frequency for Channel 13 in Linden when Green Construction was broadcasting to the community, and to whom was Channel 13 passed, and who now possesses it?
In the interest of the economic and or commercial development of the sector and the concomitant creative/ information/ technology/ communication industries, the NFMU needs to indicate what is available for development and growth on the electromagnetic spectrum throughout the country.
The NFMU cannot be seen as and is not a revenue collection agency but an agency intended to promote the growth and development of radio/television and telecommunications in the country. The mission statement of the National Frequency Management Unit of Guyana declares, “To efficiently and effectively manage the electromagnetic frequency spectrum and to administer the number resources of Guyana; being proactive, customer oriented, transparent and keeping abreast with global technological developments in the telecommunications sector, thereby fostering an environment conducive for investment and where the deployment and use of ICTs can be optimized for the social and economic development of Guyana.”
As is the wont in this country, my appeal may either be dismissed as partisan or shunted off to the “New Guyana National Broadcasting Authority” that is largely responsible for licensing. I suggest that we deal with the issues I have raised, basically what is state of the Radio Frequency Spectrum at the moment so we can know what can go where in the future.
At the same time, perhaps we can also get a report on the stewardship of the Office of the Director of Telecommuni-cations?
A copy of the correspondence I sent to Mr Valmicki Singh, Head of the National frequency Management Unit follows:
“Dear Mr. Singh,
“I wish to obtain from the National Frequency Management Unit of Guyana a list of the Channels (bands) and Frequencies allocated to entities, individuals and companies for the period 1991-2012. I would be grateful if the allocations can cover all areas of Guyana for both Radio and Television Broadcasting. Basically I would like to know who is allocated or operating on what frequency in Guyana for public or over the air cable broadcasting and what frequencies are available for allocation.
“The airwaves are a limited public resource and this information will serve to assist me in knowing who owns what or who was allocated what within the electro-magnetic spectrum and based on what submissions Guyana has made to the International Frequency Regulation Board.
I believe that the National Frequency Management Unit maintains a public register of who has what “claims” and or who has been allocated what so speak.
“I am looking forward to your response as early as possible in keeping with your Mission Statement to be transparent.”
Yours faithfully,
Enrico Woolford
Executive Director
EMW Communications/Capitol
News
