In Spain there are at least 2,279 illegal broadcasting stations in
operation, double the number of authorized private stations, and some even
pretend to be part of an authentic network, according to a report given to
the Ministry of Industry by the Spanish Association of Commercial Radio
(AERC).

The secretary of the AERC, Alfonso Ruiz de Assín, says that ten years ago
there were approximately 300 pirates, but an explosion of individual
stations and the formation of radio networks has contributed to this rapid
expansion. In addition, the AERC reports that there are 124 municipal
transmitters with administrative concessions that involve some type of
irregularity, and 504 stations that fail to fulfill the law, either because
they are not exploited by the city councils, or because they broadcast in
networks, or are connected to private commercial networks.

The existence of these broadcasting organizations, says Ruiz de Assín,
produces interference, spoils the quality of reception and does economic
damage to the licensed stations. The report will be sent to the presidents
of the autonomous communities and to the competent authorities in the
matter, with the details of illegal transmitters and irregularities detected
in each region.

The Association has registered 482 illegal transmitters in the Canary
Islands; 387 in Andalusia; 318 in Valencia; 183 in Catalonia; 144 in Madrid;
143 in the Basque Country; 106 in Murcia; 103 in Galicia; 73 in Aragón; 69
in Cantabria; 68 in Castile and Leon; 67 in Castilla-La Mancha; 40 in the
Balearics; 40 in Asturias; 27 in Extremadira; 25 in Navarre and 4 in Rioja.
Only Ceuta and Melilla are clear of illegalities, points out the report,
which says the present situation is one of anarchy. It demands of the
authorities urgent action to restore the application of the law in an
activity "as meticulously regulated as is the radio".

According to the secretary of the Spanish Association of Commercial Radio,
the ideal way to end the illegal stations would be joint action by the
independent, competent communities and the central Administration.

(Media Network)