Hope to #saveshortwave

Hopes to resurrect the Australia Broadcasting Corporation’s shortwave radio service have not died as an online petition slowly gains support.

The petition has more than 1000 signatures, and Pacific Islanders should take the time to lend their support for the critical service, says Pacific Freedom Forum editor Jason Brown.

The forum, a regional NGO that advocates for media freedom, created the petition in an effort to persuade the ABC to maintain its shortwave service to the region.

ABC’s decision to replace the short wave frequency with online streaming and FM radio leaves millions across the Pacific region including the Cook Islands and French Polynesia, without coverage.

“Most of the signatures come from Australia and New Zealand, including our island communities such as Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga,” says Brown.

USP Journalism head Dr Shailendra Singh says ABC should seriously consider reconnecting the service because it is a moral obligation.

“New Zealand International withdrew their shortwave transmission and now Radio Australia follows suit,” he says. “Long- time loyal listeners have become orphaned.”

Singh describes the exit as a catastrophe that will affect millions of people who will be without a reliable news service.

“Natural disasters are reportedly increasing in frequency and ferocity, so the timing is really poor,” Singh says.

Last week Australia’s independent Senator Nick Xenophon tabled an amendment in parliament seeking to restore the services. Senators have since grilled the ABC’s managing director Michelle Guthrie over the decision, and have asked for the research that purportedly influenced the move to be shared.

A report on the ABC Amendment (Restoring Shortwave Radio) Bill 2017 has been referred to the Senate, and an inquiry is scheduled for May.

However, Brown says petitioners from as far as Argentina, South Africa, Finland, Lithuania, Japan and Russia have vowed their support to reverse ABC’s decision.

The ever-shrinking number of non-digital services to the public is a critical concern to the community of radio enthusiasts worldwide.

Brown also explained further concerns on digitalizing radio, that if a major sun spot event occurs; digital communications will breakdown instantly leaving us without any means of communicating.

By Chrisnrita Aumanu

Edited by Kaelyn Dekarube