CCK Threatens To Shut Down Citizen TV Transmitters

In February this year, the ICT sector regulator, Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) clamped down on Royal Media Services (RMS) shutting down 17 broadcast transmitters in four different locations (check that out HERE)

RMS then filed a lawsuit against CCK but the High Court threw it out (read about that HERE). Once again, the SK Macharia-owned media house has been warned by CCK that it risks having 7 of its broadcast transmitters shut down.

The regulator put a public notice on unauthorised use of frequencies by Citizen TV in Nanyuki, Menengai hill, Narok, Maili nne in Nyahururu, Kilifi, Kitui and Mwingi. CCK has given 30 days to the company to stop using the frequencies or it will take the measures at its disposal. Director general Francis Wangusi said on the phone the seven transmitters are new discoveries made in its recent audit.

“We will use our regulatory power to shut down these transmitters,” he said. The self-allocated frequencies, according to Wangusi, are on the reserved guard bands. A guard band is an unused part of the radio/TV spectrum between allocated bands, for the purpose of preventing interference.
So even if RMS rightly applied for the frequencies, they are not available for allocation to any operator.

According to the Kenya Information and Communications act, Cap 411A, operation of radio services without a licence is an offense that attracts a fine of Sh5 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.

Additional information: The Star