LIBERIA: LTA Report: LBS, OK FM, Truth FM, Others In Gross Violation …As Several Operate Illegally

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has released the state of radio stations report with over 90 percent of radio stations in Montserrado County including the state-owned Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) and other broadcast giants such as OK FM, Truth FM, Sky FM in gross violation.

Other major outlets in violation/noncompliance are: Prime FM, Freedom FM, Hot FM, Punch FM, Radio Monrovia, Bana FM, the University of Liberia-run Lux FM, Capitol FM, United Methodist Radio, King’s FM and Power FM.

LTA is the government’s agency responsible for the orderly, efficient, allocation, assignment and management of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) assigned Spectrum. Spectrum is a scarce, finite resource each country, regardless of its size, is allotted the same amount of spectrum.

Speaking at a news conference held at its head offices in Paynesville, outside
Monrovia on Thursday, June 20, 2024, Abdullah L. Kamara, Acting
Chairperson of the LTA, disclosed that only 10 out of 53 stations licensed and assigned frequencies in Montserrado County alone, are in compliance, while the remaining 43 are non-compliance.

“We have generated two lists which we are going to make public for you today.
The first is the list of stations which have been previously licensed with the LTA at one time or another but are currently, or at least over 90% of them are no longer in compliance. Stations on this list have lapsed in their payments to the LTA and thus to Republic of Liberia. They are in fact, using our finite spectrum resource, illegally. This list has 53 stations listed in Montserrado County alone, only 10 are in compliance,” Acting Commissioner Kamara told the media.

“Two more have their applications pending to be in compliance. Some of these stations have not paid in years. They have just continued to operate, year in year out, generating revenue, oblivious to their obligation to government,” he furthered.

Disturbingly, the LTA reported that there are 17 other radio stations operating in Montserrado County that have never, ever, been registered, and this category is also inclusive of two sub-stations of the state broadcaster.

Mr. Kamara named the 17 illegally operated stations as: Vision FM, Shatar FM, Radio Bushrod, Brush FM, Revelatory FM, Mack FM, Encounter Radio, Metro FM operated by LBS, Language FM, also operated by LBS and Voice of District 17.

The others are: Blaze FM, Kwetekeh FM, Flaming Fire, Ministry of Education-run MOE Radio, Strong FM and Freedom FM.

“There is however, a more disturbing group. We have a second list of 17 stations operating right now in Montserrado County that have never, ever, been registered whatsoever. These are stations whose owners simply brought in equipment never registered with LTA or properly installed. Many have exposed employees to harmful levels of radiation from transmitters operating within their studios. Most of these stations go on to broadcast on any frequency available and cause interference with other stations.”

Due to the proliferation of illegal stations in Montserrado County, the LTA has declared the placement of moratorium on the issuance of licenses.

“The number of new applications on file for stations in Montserrado is huge. These are owners ready to pay for our frequency but our landscape is so cluttered, new frequency assignments are impossible. We will get it cleaned up. No station operating in Liberia, starting with Montserrado County will use our frequency assignments freely. Today we are issuing a call to all station owners in Montserrado who fall into one of the two categories to come to the LTA in Paynesville and let’s see how we can help get your station into compliance.”

“We do not want to close any stations down but if owners refuse to come in they may lose their frequency to new applicants who are patiently waiting to start their station operation. As stewards, we have to ensure that those who use our frequencies, do so legitimately and without interference from others. This new Board of Commissioners is ushering in an era of greater transparency, accountability and effectiveness in the management of F M Frequency providing a more sustainable environment for all in the broadcast industry.”

Asked as to what would be the LTA’s actions against the violators and dubious operators, Mr. Kamara outlined several remedies to include suspension, fine, revocation and a possible legal action depending on the gravity of the crime.

The LTA boss vowed that the entity under the watchful eyes of the current commissioners will professionally issue frequency in line with international standards.

In remarks, Commissioner Patrick Honnah explained that plans are underway to set regulations that guide spectrum users, adding that this will be the first of its kind.

Mr. Honnah also indicated that the LTA as part of many rebranding process, will set and establish hotlines and consumers’ affairs desk for the sole purpose of addressing issues of customers’ concern.

Meanwhile, top media executive, T. Max Jlateh, CEO of Sky Communications System – operator of Sky FM and TV, attributed the delinquency of stations to pay their frequencies fees to the emergence of the social media, which according to him, has to a larger extent affected the business operations of traditional media.

“The social media evolvement has made us to go that way. We are seriously challenged. A lot has been taken away from the traditional media due to the emergence of social media,” Mr. Jlateh told LTA authorities.