Zero tolerance for Curtin-style radio breaches

by Annelie Wressmark

May 21, 2008

A LICENSE breach by Curtin University’s radio station led the Australian Communications and Media Authority this week to announce similar breaches would not be tolerated from other community radio stations.

Curtin University is the licensee of Curtin 100.1FM and was found to have breached the conditions of its license twice. As a result, Curtin FM has stopped all live chats with financial supporters and will pre-record all announcements to acknowledge advertisers correctly.

ACMA spokesman Jonquil Ritter said pre-recordings would help Curtin FM fulfil its obligations. No further action would be taken against them this time, he said.

“Each complaint is considered on a case-by- case basis,” Mr Ritter added. “In this instance, Curtin FM took remedial action of its own accord, prior to the investigation's finalisation.

“However, if the conditions are breached again it is likely that ACMA would escalate action.”

Breakfast presenter and producer at RTR FM, Peter Barr, said his community station was very aware of the condition of its license, but it was important to remind community radio stations of their responsibilities.

“ACMA has sometimes been accused to be a toothless tiger, but I think everyone deserves a second chance or a third in Curtin FM’s case,” Barr said. “Stations have temptations to be something they shouldn’t be.

“I think it’s important for community radio stations to call the ads what they are.”

ACMA found Curtin FM “failed to include appropriate acknowledgements of financial support (‘tags’) in relation to live chats with financial supporters”.

The federal Broadcasting Services Act 1992 also restricts community radio stations to a limit of five minutes per hour for sponsorship announcements. Curtin University was found to have breached this as well.

Curtin FM failed to get back to eMU News by deadline with its side of the story.