After months of lobbying by Cultural Survival and our Indigenous Community Radio partners, the proposed telecommunications bill has received a favorable recommendation from the Indigenous Peoples Committee of the Guatemalan Congress. An official ceremony took place January 14th at the Salon del Pueblo of the Congreso de la Republica where Congressman Rodolfo Castenon, the president of the Pueblos Indigenas Committee, delivered the signed initiative to the legislative directorate.

Mr. Byron Juventino Chacón Ardón
President of Communications Commission
Guatemalan Congress
Email: bchacon@congreso.gob.gt

On August 3, over a thousand rural people rallied in Guatemala City in support of a bill that was introduced to the Guatemalan Congress to legalize community radio. The bill, which was the product of months of work by Cultural Survival staff and radio station volunteers, has now been assigned to two committees (Communications, Transportation and Public Works Committee and Indigenous Peoples Committee) for review. Tino Recinos, our lead lobbyist, met with presidents of both committees last week. Forty-five radio volunteers are aggressively working to push the bill though.

 For a printable PDF version click here.

Constitutional President of the Republic of Guatemala
Ingeniero Álvaro Colom Caballeros
Casa Presidencial
6 a. Avenida, 4-18 Zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala

Dear President Colom,

guCultural Survival Guatemala Radio Project Content Director Jorge Molina is training 60 volunteers in monthly workshops in four locations around Guatemala. Over the course of nine months (July 2007-March 2008) the workshop participants will write, act, record, and produce a total of eight episodes of radio dramas focused on health and the environment. All eight of the episodes will be aired on 168 community radio stations reaching an audience of approximately 3 million listeners.