The Media Association of Jamaica (MAJ) is maintaining its stance concerning a proposed levy on the revenues of radio and free-to-air television stations.
The Broadcasting Commission has submitted to the Government a report aimed at modernising Jamaica's electronic media policy.
The report was prepared by a Canadian company and it recommends that radio and free to air television stations pay a license fee as their cable counterparts do, to fund the Commission's activities.
There has been speculation that this figure will be 5%, but the Commission has denied this claim.
Gary Allen, MAJ Chairman, is insisting that this figure was being seriously considered, and if implemented will seriously harm the industry.
"If the Commission has not recommended 5% to the Government in its report that it has sent to the Government that's a different matter, but 5% was being discussed and our position is that 5% would hurt the media industry significantly," he said Wednesday sevening on RJR's daily current affairs discussion programme Beyond The Headlines.
Several fees being heaped on broadcasters
Mr. Allen said the industry is not against paying a license fee, but there are several issues to consider first.
"We are not averse to paying our fair way however, we would not support that we continue to give, for example, Government reserve time, while paying a regulators fee, plus at the same time accepting that fees will be leveled for breaches. In addition, there have been discussions about paying a 1% (fee) to support public broadcasting while at the same time, paying a portion for spectrum fees. If all of those are being heaped on broadcasters then obviously we would have a difficulty with that," Mr. Allen added.
Ensuring the Commission's financially independent
The Broadcasting Commission meanwhile, is asserting the value of imposing the licensing fee to further develop the entity and improve its service delivery.
Dr. Hopeton Dunn, Chairman of the Commission, says cable operators are already paying a fee, so the playing field would be levelled.
In addition, he says the fees will ensure that the Commission is adequately and independently funded.
"When you have an imbalance such that only it is one segment of the industry that's paying a license fee, then you run the risk of them saying to you why are we alone bearing the burden of the cost associated with the regulator? And in any event, if any regulator is to maintain its independence, it must have financial balance, freedom from interference and pressures whether economic or political and part of that is making sure that all who are in the industry as licenses pay part of the cost for that," said Dr. Dunn, who was also a guest on Beyond The Headlines. said while speaking
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