Afpaki paradigm missing key point.

By Gerald Internet Anthropologist Think

08.17.09

US forces have been jamming insurgent FM pirate radio

signals.

FM radio broadcasts are line of sight.

In the mountains they have very limited range

Max 30 miles, In the mountains 3 to 5 miles,

depending on terrain.

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From one of our sources inside the Beltway

The cell phone companies pay the local Taliban to protect the towers, $2-3,000/month/tower and the phones are now lit up 24/7, most have generators. The Taliban also provide security to the technicians and deliver fuel and supplies.

There are a few madrassas that run FM stations, but as you state, it's all line of sight, low power. Mostly to broadcast Friday prayers, it's a Saudi-paid program. If Taliban slop comes on we can jam them. A major problem is load-shedding all over Pakistan, severe in the FATA and NWFP. They turn off the power to most areas after dark, so no power to transmit, during the time Pak's are ready to listen.

In the FATA, the locals don't have to pay for electricity so the government-utility shuts off the power and sells it to the major cities at night.

This is a fundamental issue in the FATA, the tribes want autonomy but now want services also. Pakistan won't give both and the tribes would rather live in the stone-age, nibbling away at technology, one cell phone at a time, holding on to their privacy, trying to minimize Western influence and limit change.

The tribes won't pay to play, 36 million Pakhtun with no colleges or universities or major hospitals.:

( In many of the Tribal regions all they know is what the Taliban tells them. G )

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The locals tune in with batteries to listen to prayers around sun down.

The Taliban has a captive audience, batteries are dear, and expensive.

And only used for listening to prayers.

The Taliban are broadcasting the prayers, and their messages.

There are 400 to 500 short range FM stations feeding the people

the Taliban message, with the prayers.

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Peshawar ; More than 100 illegal FM radio stations run by local mullahs and warlords – some calling for holy war against U.S.-led NATO forces – fill the airwaves in Pakistan's volatile and conservative North West Frontier Province and tribal belt along the Afghan border.

An exact figure about the number of illegal FM radio stations is not available because most of them are operating in the far-flung areas. Similarly, no research or media mapping of this new and fast-growing phenomenon has been done so far. There are different versions about the number of these stations.

Among the seven tribal agencies along the Afghan border, Bajure Agency has six, Khyber Agency has five, Mohmand Agency two and Orakzai agency has one illegal FM radio stations.

"If a small district has 28 illegal FM radio stations, then just imagine about rest of the province and the tribal belt," an official in the interior ministry said.

However, officials in the Pakistan Media Regulation Authority ( PEMRA) – the media watch, put the number of illegal FM radio stations at 108.

"There are about 108 illegal FM radio stations operating in various parts of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan along the Afghan border," officials in the regional office of the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said.

Regarding illegal FM stations in Pakistan's NWFP and FATA:

NWFP:
Swabi District - 28
Malakand Agency - 14
Mardan District - 11

FATA:
Bajaur Agency - 6
Khyber Agency - 5
Mohmand Agency - 2
Orakai Agency - 1

Total: 67

This is a count of the FM stations that broadcast daily at known frequencies from known locations. Most broadcast from madrassas or mosques. The theme is usually the translation and interpretation of the Koran.

At least another 65 FM stations broadcast nearly daily from clandestine and frequently changing locations, usually with a jihadist theme.

One of the better known is run by Maulana Mohannad Qasim, member of Parliament, from his madrassa in Sher Garh, Mardan.

The Pakistan Media Regulation Authority uses a count of 108 recognized and familiar, but unregistered, broadcasters.

Most transmit between 88 and 108 Mhz and transmit 25-30 km using an amplifier car batteries for power. A few range out to 50 km. Some mobil units transmit on police frequencies.

"We got this list of 108 illegal FM Radio channels from police stations across the province", an official in the Peshawar office said, requesting anonymity.

"There has been no research carried out on the issue, so the number of the stations is not known. said Professor Altafullah Khan of Journalism Department at Peshawar University, who is pursuing his post-doctorate research on the illegal FM Radio stations in Pakistan's Frontier Province and Tribal belt along the Afghan border.

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If the indigenous people had elect. power,

they would listen to other stations during

the day, one Strong AM station should reach

all of Afpaki.

Once they have power ( elect. ) then

it becomes a question of popularity,

not just listening to religious prayers,

because of the cost of batteries.

As we have said we do not fear

what the terrorist say,

We fear not anserwing their lies.

You can't win the hearts and minds

if your not taliking ( broadcasting ) to

them.

Once the power grid covers Afpaki

"They" will have a choice of what

to listen to, and hear both sides

of the "INSURGENCY".

Now they only hear the Taliban

lies, and that makes them eaisy to

recruit.

The Power ( elect. grid ) will

give the people the power

to hear a balanced view.

The hearts and minds are

waiting, ears open, but not

enough elect power or Batteries

to listen.

This is the KEY to breaking the

hold of the Taliban, ending the

support for the Taliban, and

turning the people to Allah.

And true Islam.

Gerald

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Transmitters: their range of signals, and the cost

For an illegal radio station in a mosque or madrassa, you just need a Radiator-shapped transmitter, an amplifier and a car-battery – that's it. It’s easy and cheap to set up an FM channel. Equipments are easily available in the local market.

Local engineers say that setting up an FM channel can cost from $500 to $1,000—depending on transmitter quality.

According to operators and PEMRA officials, signals of most illegal FM channels work within a 25-30 km range. However, some powerful FM transmitters have listeners even beyond 40 km and in some cases beyond 50 km.

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