Botswana - Apply for a Radio Commercial Broadcasting License-FM

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Procedure

Apply in person

1. The application for a Radio Commercial Broadcasting License-FM shall be made to the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) whose mandate is to regulate the communications sector in Botswana, comprising telecommunications, Internet and Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), radio communications, broadcasting, postal services, and related matters. please view the BOCRA contact details using this BOCRA Office Location & Contact Details
2. Applications have to be submitted in writing on a Television and Sound Broadcasting Service Licence Application Form, obtainable at the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) office, or download it via the BOCRA website BOCRA Application Forms, or directly download it using this Television and Sound Broadcasting Application Form
3. The completed application file attached to the supporting documentation as listed under the “Required Documents” section of this page should be hand-delivered or through registered mail to the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) office for consideration.
4. Applications involving a radio network with multiple links should be accompanied by a detailed network layout.
5. The application shall also be accompanied by the commercial broadcasting services application fee is BWP 5,000.00 (non-refundable). All fees payment should be made as per the Authority's preferable mode of payment. For more information about the Fees please refer to the “Fees” section of this page.
6. Upon receipt of the application, the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), licensing and registration office will check for discrepancies or ineligibility in the application documents. If a discrepancy that cannot be immediately corrected exists in any of the documents, the application and all the submitted documents will be returned to the applicant and should not be re-submitted until the discrepancy has been rectified.
7. The Authority shall respond within seven (07) working days after receipt of the application by issuing an acknowledgment letter, including the next step of action.
8. The Authority may request additional information relevant to the application. In such a case the information must be submitted within the stipulated time from the date of notification. If the applicant fails to submit the required information within this period, the application shall be closed. A “cooling off” period of 06 months shall be enforced within which the applicant shall not be allowed to submit a fresh Application on a similar business.
9. The Authority shall examine the application to determine conformity with the provisions of the National Table of Frequency Allocations (TOFA) and other relevant documents in regard to the proposed frequency band and technical parameters.
10. The Authority will decide on the applications and provide written reasons for its ruling, within ninety (90) working days of receipt of applications.
11. In case of favorable findings, the Authority carries out technical analysis, identifies, and reserves suitable frequencies for assignment to the applicant. Where it is not possible to assign the frequency, the applicant is advised appropriately.
12. Where frequencies have been identified for assignment, the Authority reverts to the applicant with an offer to assign frequencies together with relevant terms and conditions.
13. Upon satisfying the Authority with the preliminary requirements, a draft license is sent to the Applicant to consider, the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) will notify the Minister of the approval.
14. Negotiations of Terms and Conditions of the Licence will then follow (negotiations can take as long as the Authority deems essential).
15. After completion of the negotiation phase, the applicant is also advised to pay the applicable frequency fee before the assignment of frequencies. Once the applicant remits the frequency fee, the Authority assigns the reserved frequencies and the applicant is required to put the frequency into use within the timeframe indicated in the assignment letter.
16. In addition, the applicant is required to ensure that the radio equipment to be used is duly type approved/accepted by the Authority prior to installation and use. If the applicant fails to utilize the assigned frequencies within the timeframe stipulated in the conditions of assignment, the Authority is at liberty to revoke the assignment.
17. The Authority issues a radio commercial broadcasting license, once the applicant has obtained type approval/acceptance for proposed radio equipment and has paid the frequency license fee.
18. The period of validity of a frequency license is 15 years or part thereof; however, the license is subjected to an annual frequency license fee. A radio broadcasting license is valid for ten years. Both licenses must be renewed earlier if continued use of the assigned frequency is desired.

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Required Documents

• Duly completed Television and Sound Broadcasting Application Form
• Valid/expired broadcasting license
• Receipt of payment of licensing fee BWP 5,000.00 application fee (non-refundable).
• Valid Company Certificate of Incorporation (certified copy)
• Proof of the following;
  • Adequate staffing levels.
  • The realism of the financial and original business plans that promote competition and market growth submitted.
  • Geographic coverage.
  • Capacity to explain their broadcasting plans and vision for the service.
• Applications involving a radio network with multiple links should be accompanied by a detailed network layout.
• Any other additional document information, as may be requested by the Authority.

Note: All copies of documents submitted to the Authority are to be certified by a Commissioner of Oaths.

Office Locations & Contacts

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA)
Plot 50671 Independence Avenue
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel : +267 395 7755
Fax : +267 395 7976
Email : [email protected]
Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) Office Location & Contact Details
Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) Website

Eligibility

Applicants should meet the following qualification to be eligible to apply;

• Legally registered companies.
• The applicant shall be incorporated and have an office in Botswana.
• Hold an expired/valid current broadcasting license.

Fees

BOCRA Radio License Fees-structure

• The commercial broadcasting services application fee is P5,000.00.
• For Commercial broadcasting services: 1 % of Annual Net Turnover, payable three months after the end of each operational year; All broadcasting services shall submit audited financial statements to the Authority annually within 90 days of the end of the financial year.

Note: These fees are subject to amendment by the Authority.

Payment methods:

• Payment can be made by cash or company cheques at BTA headquarters, plot 206/207, independence avenue, Gaborone.
• Customers within Botswana may Deposit Cash into BTA account number 62011115088, First National Bank, The Mall Branch, Gaborone. Deposit may be paid at any FNB Branch in Botswana, Bank charges of P3.00 will be payable by the customer in addition to the invoice amount.
• Customers from outside Botswana are requested to pay fees by means of a bank draft in Botswana Pula. Customers paying through a Bank are requested to fax the deposit receipt to the BTA Fax number +267 3957976. Please indicate your BTA Invoice number in the receipt

Validity

• The period of validity of a frequency license is 15 years or part thereof; however, the license is subjected to an annual frequency license fee.
• A radio broadcasting license is valid for ten years unless revoked, suspended, or cancelled by the Authority. Both licenses must be renewed earlier, i.e least ninety (90) days before the expiration date of the current license, if continued use of the assigned frequency is desired.

Documents to Use

Television and Sound Broadcasting Application Form

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• The time frame for processing the application is within ninety (90) days, from the date of submission of the application.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required Information

• Full name of the applicant
• Operation site (Station) details
• Contact details
• Current broadcasting license details
• Company registration certificate details
• VAT number
• Physical address details
• Equipment details
• Declaration by the applicant

Need for the Document

• No person/ entity shall carry out any broadcasting or re-broadcasting activity unless he or she has a valid license issued by the Board. A state broadcaster shall not require a license to operate. Therefore, any person or entity seeking to operate a system for the provision of broadcasting services has to obtain authorization from Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA).

Information which might help

Enter other information which might help.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses for obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) Broadcasting License Issue Procedure

Others

More information which might help people.