Illegal transistor radios seized in NCD, Kimbe

MORE than 5,000 illegal transistor radios were seized from shops in Port Moresby and Kokopo by National Information and Communication Authority Inspectors (Nicta) yesterday.
The operation to remove the radios came a month after Nicta issued a public announcement warning shop owners to remove the offending radios from their shelves.
The illegal radios operate below the regulated FM band of 88MHz to more than 108.0MHz.
“Radios that can operate below 88MHz should not be used in the country,” Nicta enforcement and compliance manger Gabriel Nakau said.
“Those lower frequencies are used in China because they have a lot of radio stations unlike us.
“Anything below 88MHz are reserved frequencies for police and the health department.”
Four locations in the nation’s capital were targeted in yesterday’s ope­ration – Vision City, Gerehu, Erima and Badili.
“Basically we are here to protect the customers’ rights,” Nakau said.
“If you buy one of the radios and it does not work, the shop owner will normally accuse you of spoiling the radio when you take it back.
“That’s why we want to ensure proper radios are sold.
“Shops selling radio must also have a dealer licence.”
Nakau said the inspectors would serve notices on the shop owners for having illegal radios for sale.
He said those who failed to comply with the notice in the past month could be fined K10,000.