Media One test broadcast postponed

The controversy over opening up FM radio to new entrants remained unresolved when the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) failed to supervise a test broadcast by upstart broadcasting firm Media One Broadcating Co., Inc. (Media One) as ordered by the House of Representatives last week.

Members of the House committees on legislative franchises and transportation and communications also slammed the NTC for neglecting to set up parameters for the test broadcast such as deployment of NTC personnel in Media One’s headquarters in Mandaluyong to oversee the operations and other technical considerations such as the proper equipment to detect splatter in the airwaves.

"The test broadcast should be done under the auspices of the NTC but it seems that there was no arrangement made to make sure that we will be able to know the feasibility of a 400-kHz frequency separation in the FM band, whether analog or digital," said Rep. Jacinto Paras, chair of the House committee on transportation and communications.

The two committees had earlier written to NTC Commissioner Armi Jane Borje requesting the regulatory body to grant Media One a one-day test broadcast permit for an analog transmission using 400 (KHz) separation. The permit was given by NTC early last week. Media One was scheduled to test broadcast on Wednesday with members of the two House committees listening to the broadcast to determine whether there would be interference at a frequency gap of 400 kHz instead of the current standard of 800 kHz. The hearing, however, was mired in arguments over the propriety of conducting the test broadcast because of the absence of NTC representatives at Media One’s premises in Mandaluyong. Some congressmen were also angered by the no-show of NTC Commissioner Armi Jane Borje at the hearing.

The House initiated a joint committee hearing on the move to open up FM radio to new players after a resolution was filed before the committee on legislative franchises that sought an inquiry on the growing backlog of legislative franchise grantees not being given permits by the NTC.

The NTC earlier admitted it could not grant permits for new FM radio stations since the spectrum was already filled up. At the current separation standard of 800 kHz between stations, all the available frequencies have already been allocated. However, the NTC also admitted that a separation standard of 400 kHz was already possible, prompting congressmen to order a test broadcast by Media One to determine whether a 400-kHz separation standard could be adopted.