NCA shuts down illegal 'living room' FM station

Officials of the National Communications Authority (NCA) on Wednesday, 15 November, shut down an illegal FM station at Donsoman in Accra.

The NCA said the station was being run from the living room of the operator.

The NCA said the move violates section 3 (1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2008, Act 775.

The regulator said the operators of the Frequency were also in breach of section 71 (1) (b)(c) of Act 775, which provides that a person who knowingly fails to comply with prescribed standards and requirements for the use of radio spectrum and provides electronic communication services without a licence, where a licence is required, commits an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than 3,000 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than five years or to both.

The NCA said operators of the illegal station had denied running an FM station insisting that they only operated an online station.

The NCA, however, noted that it has recordings of the station operating on the illegal Frequency of 104.9FM.

“Upon checks on the premises, it was discovered that the transmitter which was subsequently confiscated had been hidden under the stations banner.”