Caroline Hammat
IT was a good news day for Millicent’s community radio station on Tuesday as word came through that 5the FM has been granted a 12 month temporary broadcast license by the Australian Communications Media Authority (ACMA).
A $20,000 debt owing to BAI Communications was the only obstacle in the way of the station being able to broadcast from the Mount Burr transmitter owned by the company.
News the existing debt owed to BAI Communications would be waived by the company was welcome.
The station had recently started a Go Fund Me campaign to help retire the debt.
Chair of 5the FM, David Walshaw welcomed the news.
“Michael Ryder who is the head of commercial broadcasting at BAI Communications saw our media and Go Fund Me page,” he said.
“He sent us an email to set up a time to meet and have a chat with him.
“By the end of the conversation he said he would like to, subject to us getting our license, waive the debt.
“It is amazing news.
“People who have donated to the Go Fund Me page to retire that debt can have their money back or they can leave it at the station for us to retire other debt we have.”
Remaining debt at the station is now between $5,000 and $7,000 and mostly owing to smaller local businesses and Telstra.
Subject to the availability of BAI Communications staff to switch the transmitter on, it is planned the station will be heard on the 107.7 frequency once again next Thursday, July 6.
“It’s very exciting” Mr Walshaw said.
“Thursday is a big day for us, Craig Press will be the breakfast show and we’ve got non-stop stuff happening all day.
“Now it gives everyone with a radio an opportunity to listen to us, not just those who are digitally literate and have a device they could listen on.
“We will still be streaming but it will be complementary to, not instead of, being free to air.
“We’ve had lots of comments around the world from expats listening to their radio station in Millicent via streaming and we would like to continue doing that.”
The station has been streaming their content online for the last six months after the license to broadcast was not renewed in December due to breaches of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA).
The breaches of the BSA, which included concerns with governance and transparency in the committee structure, occurred before a new board of members was elected in November last year after a vote of no confidence in the existing board.
The new board inherited debts estimated to be over $100,000 with much of this debt being waived by the agencies and companies involved.
In December expressions of interest are available for a five year community broadcast license through ACMA and the station has plans to apply for this longer license.
