The Policy of Community Radio in Thailand

Abstract

The policy of community radio in Thailand came into being according to the constitution amendment B.E.2540, which stipulates that radio frequencies belong to the public and that an independent agency should be responsible for frequency assignments and community radio station control. The policy resulted in community radio stations mushrooming even before an independent agency could be set up. Especially during Thaksin Shinawatra’s government, there were over 7,000 community radio stations, causing problems of overlapping frequencies, competition and control. This research aims to study people’s understanding of the intention of the constitution amendment B.E.2540 regarding community radio, to study the implementation of the community radio policy, and to make recommendations for the improvement in policy implementation. This is a qualitative research study, carried out by interviewing 91 respective people from seven provinces. The interviews were structured according to pre-planned issues, gathered, then grouped, logically studied and analyzed.

The research found that there is no discrepancy between the purpose of community radio as stated and the purpose of community radio as perceived by concerned parties. The general audience has a strong belief that community radio must be utilized for the community’s benefit, must respond to the community’s needs, and must help the community. The research also pin-pointed four major restrictions in community radio in Thailand: (1) lack of clarity in the constitution, (2) lack of supporting laws, (3) a generally negative attitude among upper-level government agencies toward community radio, and (4) a large number of opportunist community radio operators.

Most interviewees think that desirable community radio should be set up by the community, for its beneÞ t and with its participation. In addition, it should abide by the government’s regulations,

offer programs that Þ t the community’s needs, not have any political involvement, have quality radio program hosts, and seek no profit. The implementation of community radio appears to have both positive and negative impacts. Positively, the public acquires knowledge and information. Community radio also develops public participation and changes in people’s behavior, though not yet notably, as it is still at the initial stage. Adversely, community radio impacts mainstream radio, national security, aviation radio signals, and other community radio signals. Accordingly, interviewees recommend that an independent agency be set up according to the constitution to direct community radio affairs and to develop community radio-related personnel.