Radio Hereti founder Ramaz Samkharadze alleges there is a vacant radio frequency available in the country but the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) is refusing to issue license for the frequency.

“As far as I am concerned technically it’s absolutely possible to issue licenses and launch broadcasts through the 90-93 MHz section on FM,” said Ramaz Samkharadze reporting to Media.ge.

The Commission last issued the radio broadcasting license in Tbilisi in September 2011, stating FM98.5 was the last vacant frequency. Hereti too was trying to obtain the frequency but it was defeated by Media House Decom (Radio Tskheli Shokoladi) having launched broadcasts late in March 2012.

Samkharadze is demanding the contest for private radio broadcasting to be announced anew since, he alleges, there are some more frequencies available. Radio Hereti founder sent a letter of request to the GNCC Chair Irakli Chikovani.

In response to the letter Irakli Chikovani clarified that according to the national plan of frequency distribution 93.8-108 MHz has been apportioned for radio broadcasting through frequency modulation and no more frequency is now available.  

“Ramaz Samkharadze is spreading disinformation. There is no free resource for radio broadcasting left in Georgia therefore we are unable to issue licenses,” said GNCC’s press secretary Khatia Kurashvili reporting to Media.ge. 

According to Hereti founder several radios are conducting broadcasts through the breach of licenses. He cited Radio Art on FM 97.5 as an example. For a few months Radio Art had been off air, Samkharadze said, and the radio got back on air following his letter to the GNNC Chairman over the issue.

“This radio station is the holder of a general license, this is to say the radio should be offering diverse programming but now just music is endlessly on,” Samkharadze pointed out.

The information, Khatia Kurashvili alleges, is not true since all of the radios broadcast according to the license.

FM 97.5 has been owned by Radio Art for a few years now. Bob Mayer and Mamuka Khazaradze are 50 percent share holders of the radio. According to the December 30, 2011 GNCC decision radio Art was prolonged the broadcasting term until 2021. Radio Art LLC also owns FM 101.9 in Tbilisi whose managerial rights have been handed over to Media Management Group. The latter owns Radio Kalaki, broadcasting through FM 101.9.