PREPARATION FOR DIGITAL BROADCASTING 2015 STILL CRITICAL

             The Ministry of Communication and Information (KOMINFO) tend to wait and see about the policy on digital broadcasting in Indonesia. Although Indonesia should have been ready to change TV broadcasting system from analogue to digital, some obstacles stood on the way in terms of regulations. The Media Creative Community (MCM) saw some critical points in the effort to promote broadcasting industry. Digital broadcasting technology was too complicated to be regulated at Minstrial level, it should be regulated by Law which called for intensive discussion between the Government and Parliament.

          MCM saw that there were too many fabricated terminology which were confusing so the stipulations in effect were not in line with rules at higher level. For example the Broadcasting Institution for Broadcast Programming (LP3S) and the Broadcasting Institution for Multi-plaxing Broadcasting (LP3M). In the Ministrial Regulation 39/2009 only the terms Broadcasting of Programming Management and Program Broadcasting and Infra-structure (towers) Management were known. There was also the Multiplexing Management for the Public and the Private Sector in that Permen 39/2009.

        Efforts to dwarf people’s right in broadcasting could always happen. Among them the Set-to-Box aid program which was still a question. The price of this auxiliary instrument was around Rp 300,000. The public, particularly the lower middle class needed transition time to posses this supportive item.

         MCM had never known any discourse about financing for the digitalization process, especially financing for analogue-to-digital conversion plan for public broadcasting institutions (LPP) TVRI. An action as such would weaken strategy and efforts of LPP strengthening in the national broadcasting industry.

         Broadcasting infra-structure affairs only included radio frequency spectrum (SFR) and did not jointly manage towers. The consequences was that broadcasting system turned inefficient, known as high cost broadcasting. The Ministry of Kominfo was advised to observe the matter as many kinds of towers were being built today. The towers mushroomed into a “forest” amids dense populated regions which mad life uncomfortable for people.

          Requirements for permit application also closed doors for new player in the broadcasting industry, especially with matters related to multi-plexing broadcasting. LP3M were obliged to hold permit for using SFR but permit requirements must be fulfilled until declared as complete. A stipulation as such tend to advantage old players in the industry. With piles of application forms in process there would be niche for old players to make eyes with the Government.      

 Business News - February 24, 2012