[Imc-africa] licensing -- what's the current status?

[Jay]

Hi imc-africa,

[Sorry for being a typical american and only being able to write in 
one language. :)]

Now that this great IMC/WSF convergence is actually going to happen 
(yay!) and now that we have a couple grant applications out to raise 
money to buy equipment for a low power radio station (yay!) we really 
really need to pin down answers to questions about licensing low 
power radio stations in Nairobi to figure out what we may face when 
the station goes on air.  Hannah from Prometheus has been 
communicating with Judith at Maseno about licensing issues for the 
longer-term station at Maseno, so that discussion is moving forward, 
but I really think we need to prioritize finding out more information 
about the situation in Nairobi. (my apologies if this discussion has 
already happened somewhere and/or this information already exists on the wiki.)

Questions:
-- does anyone have a good sense of where we are with knowledge about 
licensing issues relating to a temporary low power station in Nairobi?
-- I remember some general information about radio licensing issues 
in Kenya appeared either on this list? If anyone knows what I'm 
talking about, could you resend it here and/or post it to the 
wiki?  (john or sphinx, do you have any of this information?)
-- Obviously the best case scenario would be for some kind of legal 
licensing to work out so we can have the station on air for two weeks 
without worries.  To have that happen, we have to find out what 
paperwork we need to fill out and do it, if such paperwork even 
exists.  John, what is your sense about the reaction authorities in 
Nairobi may have if we go on air temporarily, of course without 
stomping on any other radio station's signal, without having a 
temporary license?

Remember, though they're willing to help when possible, figuring out 
local licensing issues isn't something Prometheus is responsible for 
doing, so getting that information is our general responsibility.

Certainly we don't want to jeopardize ourselves and the rest of the 
imc convergence by putting up an unwelcome radio station, and in some 
places authorities may not look too kindly on a radio station going 
up, but in other cities having a low power radio station appear 
temporarily is far down the rung of officials' major concerns.

cheers,
Jay