De la Sota faces off with gov’t again

After Córdoba Governor José Manuel de la Sota ordered yesterday that antennae belonging to the government-sponsored Open Digital Television (TDA) be closed in three cities located in the province, the national government and several other groups protested against the provincial actions.

Presidential Deputy Chief-of-Staff Secretary Gustavo López denounced the closures, stating that the government “did it without judicial authority or technical assistance.” Cordoba Environment Secretary Federico Bocco defended the action, claiming that it was a preventive measure due to the risk it posed to the surrounding residents’ health. The antennae had been closed in the cities of Río Cuarto (Córdoba’s second-largest city), Leones and Villa María, leading to the interruption of the public airwave which 400,000 people receive.

The ultra-Kirchnerite group United and Organized stated via a press release that the decision was a “deliberate act of discrimination on the part of Governor José Manuel de la Sota.”

They furthermore stated that the provincial government was incurring in censorship because out of the 70 antennae all over the country, the only three which have encountered problems and are not allowed to function happen to be in Córdoba. The group’s statement further warned that more closures could occur with the antennae located in Villa Dolores and Punta Mogotes, in the district of Malagueño.

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner had said in her Monday nationwide broadcast that the governor “seems to want to pay cable company Cablevision instead of watching free TV.”

López alleged that the environment impact law the Córdoba government is applying does not exist, stating that control of the airwaves is a federal issue and therefore corresponds to the national government. For this reason, he said, the National Communications Commission is responsible for analyzing the environmental effect and the municipalities then decide whether to give the government permission to use their airspace.

— Herald with Telam, Ambito.com