Telecom static for TV6

THE Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago said Caribbean Communications Network (CCN) TV6 was in breach of its licence agreement and it was investigating whether nine other companies had committed the same offence. In a statement yesterday, the authority said CCN currently covers 93.5 percent of Trinidad and 75 percent of Tobago. This means 6.5 percent of potential customers in Trinidad and 25 percent in Tobago “cannot access programmes broadcast by that company.

“The failure of CCN to provide 100 percent coverage has resulted in the company falling short of its licence obligations and failing in its responsibility to the viewing public. This constitutes a breach of its licence agreement,” the authority stated. The authority said CCN had been given a deadline to provide a plan and schedule for coverage of the entire country, using the three channels for which it currently holds a licence. CCN has been advised by the authority that if it cannot provide full coverage using existing channel assignments, “it must provide cogent evidence of the impossibility of doing so.”

CCN general manager Shida Bholai was unavailable for comment yesterday, but CCN has asked the authority for an extension of the deadline to submit its broadcast plan. The authority said it was also investigating 92.1 Radio Tambrin, Citadel (i95.5 FM), Tobago Broadcasting Services Ltd (92.5 FM),  Sangeet 106 FM, Hott 93 FM, Power 102 FM, Music Radio 97 FM, Neil “Iwer” George’s 91.9 FM and Kenny Phillips’ Wack FM 90.1 for possible breaches of their licences. The authority added that any company found in violation of its broadcaster’s licence could expect to have varying degrees of sanctions imposed on it and these sanctions were outlined in Sections 65 to 72 of the Telecommunications Act 2001. Those sanctions include fines of $250,000, $100,000 and $50,000 with attached, respective prison terms of five and three years.

The Telecom authority assured the public it will investigate complaints of interference to ensure that broadcasters comply with their licence obligations and affected broadcasters may raise any relevant justifications with the authority with a view to reaching a mutually beneficial solution, within the law. The authority also said it was very concerned about numerous complaints from members of the public regarding the quality of service from the Cable Company of TT and TSTT’s GSM service.