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The Government has decided to allow advertising
on cable television, but until the regulations are approved by Parliament it is
still illegal to advertise, Minister of Information Burchell Whiteman warned
Monday.
"We are in an uncomfortable middle ground," Senator Whiteman told the weekly post cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. "The decision has been taken to allow advertising on cable, but the regulations have not yet been formally amended so that, technically, those who advertise are in breach."
He said, however, that no such breach had been reported to him by the Broadcasting Commission.
"But, I am aware that there are breaches and we are seeking to deal with the situation very, very shortly," the minister said.
The regulations of the Act say that cable television shall not carry any local advertising other than advertisements transmitted on channels carrying national broadcasts.
However, while the regular television companies see this as protection from the intrusion of cable, the cable operators have condemned it as unfair.
On Monday, Whiteman also announced that Cabinet had approved drafting instructions to amend the Broadcasting and Radio Re-Diffusion Act (1995) to take into consideration recent developments in the industry and its viability in terms of the allocation of licences.
"The upshot is that under consideration is the renewal of licences and the likelihood of granting licences for periods longer than six years, which is what the law currently provides for," he explained.
He said that the Act would be amended to allow the minister to grant a licence for a period of six years, "or for such longer period as the minister may determine on the advice of the Broadcasting Commission". The decision also allows for the Act to be amended to extend cable (subscriber) television licences, from time to time, for a period that may be considered appropriate, taking into account all the relevant circumstances affecting the licencees and industry.
"All this means is that when the time comes for the renewal of licences or the granting of new licences, there is more flexibility available to the minister on the advice of the Broadcasting Commission in respect of the granting of licences," Whiteman said.
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