STArTInG A LOCAL RADiO stAtiOn - Nai

Section 1: Getting Startedalso change. When you are ready to apply for your station’s license, it is important to ask for informationon the most recent procedures. And, if a community group (rather than an individual) plans to apply for alicense, the group must be registered with the Ministry of Justice before submitting a license application.CURRENT LICENSING PROCEDURE1. Letter of ApplicationThe applicant (individual or community group) submits a letter to the General Director of the AfghanistanNational Independent Radio and Television Commission of the Ministry of Informationand Culture.The letter must include:nnnnnnnnnnProposed name of the stationLocation of the stationStation logoName of senior programs editorOrganizational ChartList of station equipmentAmount of funding received and names of funding organizationsAmount of money to be invested (commercial station only)Cost of operations2. Application ReviewLetter of reference from existing media outlets and senior editorsThe Commission of the Ministry of Information and Culture reviews and signs the Letter of Application.The Commission returns the signed letter to the applicant.a. Applicant takes the signed letter to the Licensing Office of the Planning and International RelationsDirectorate of Radio Television Afghanistan along with two new required documents:i. Proof of applicant’s Afghan citizenship (national ID card)ii. An educational certificate from a recognized journalism faculty OR proof of at least threeyears of work experience in media.3. The licensing office takes the documents to an Authorization Commission of the Afghanistan NationalIndependent Radio and Television Commission which reviews the applicant’s qualificationsand requests two new required documents:a. The technical design: a detailed list of the specific equipment (studio production, transmitter,antenna, and etc.) the station will useb. A chart of the organizational structure that includes staff positions4. The Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) must approve the technical design and organizationalstructure before assigning the frequency and calculating a fee based on the frequencyspecifications.16 STARTING A LOCAL RADIO STATION: A MANUAL FOR AFGHANISTAN