International Broadcasters Call for End of Satellite Jamming

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International Broadcasters Call for End of Satellite Jamming

January 24, 2012 | Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland - Five of the largest international broadcasters have called upon delegates now convening in Geneva for an international treaty-making conference to address the problem of intentional interference with satellite transmissions.

The practice, known as “satellite uplink jamming,” seeks to disrupt international broadcast coverage. And it is spreading, according to the Directors General of five international broadcast organizations: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Deutsche Welle (DW), Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France (AEF), Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) and the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).

They also noted that satellite uplink jamming is contrary Article 15 of the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union, and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which reads:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the largest association of national broadcasters in the world, conveyed the views of the five broadcasters in a note to the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12), which convenes in Geneva from January 23 through February 17. The Conference is held every three to four years at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – a specialized agency of the United Nations – and is mandated to review and revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

The statement (reproduced below) appeals to “Member States, working with the support of the satellite industry and broadcasters from all regions, to work to end this increasingly prevalent practice of deliberate interference to satellite broadcasting signals.”

EBU support for DG5 position

The European Broadcasting Union is the largest association of national broadcasters in the world, whose Active Members are public service broadcasters in 56 countries corresponding to the ITU European Broadcasting Area. We promote cooperation between broadcasters and facilitate the exchange of audiovisual content. The EBU works to ensure that the crucial role of public service broadcasters is recognized and taken into consideration by decision-makers.

The EBU would like to support and encourage consideration of the following note prepared by DG5, a group of five broadcasters.

DG5 position on activity at WRC-12 to address deliberate interference to satellite broadcasting

The Directors General of the following international broadcasters - British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Deutsche Welle (DW), Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France (AEF), Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) and Voice of America (VOA) – have made previous statements condemning the practice of deliberate interference to satellite broadcasting signals in order to silence independent media and prevent free access to information.

In the view of these Directors – known collectively as the “DG5”, this contravenes Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

The DG5 notes the increase in the practice of deliberate interference to satellite broadcasting signals over the last year and, further, that the impact has extended beyond the DG5 members.

The DG5 notes that the ITU-SG Plenipotentiary Conference in 2010 (PP-10) considered that harmful interference was an issue of serious concern and that the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is the right forum for such a discussion. The DG5 also notes that the Report by the ITU Radio Regulations Board Report to WRC-12 on Resolution 80 (Rev.WRC-07), in Section 4.2.2 “Considerations regarding jamming of satellite transmissions” makes the following statement:

“Harmful interference reports of this type of interference, commonly known as “jamming,” have increased. Despite the application of the administrative procedures in the Radio Regulations, the harmful interference sometimes continues and this has given rise to the idea that something more is needed to quickly identify and eliminate the source of interference.”

After due consideration of the issues involved, PP-10 confirmed that the ITU is the appropriate UN agency to consider further measures against deliberate interference. More recently, the RRB has identified regulatory problems related to Resolutions 80 and 49, creating confusion over rights to use orbital resources and the associated frequencies, as a contributory factor in some cases of unresolved interference.

Accordingly, the DG5 calls upon WRC-12 to consider ways in which to halt such activities which contravene the Constitution and the Radio Regulations (Article 15), to determine, during the conference, how best this issue can be treated and, most importantly, resolved within the ITU. Although the DG5 would like to see decisive measures taken at WRC-12, it also notes the view of the RRB that, “Studies would be needed to determine what additional measures could be incorporated in the Radio Regulations to improve the protection of satellite networks and enable this type of harmful interference to be resolved expeditiously.”

The DG5 sincerely appeals to Member States, working with the support of the satellite industry and broadcasters from all regions, to work to end this increasingly prevalent practice of deliberate interference to satellite broadcasting signals.

Saturday 14 January 2012

Ethiopia accused of jamming Eritrea’s broadcast signals

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 13, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia is blocking satellite transmissions from Eritrea, the government in Asmara accuses its larger neighbor, this week.

The Eritrean Ministry of information in a statement Thursday warned to take legal action. It further said Addis Ababa has been warned by the Arab Satellite Communications Organization over the illegal acts.

Following the alleged interferences the state-run Eritrean satellite television today announced to viewers a change to old frequency.

Ethiopian officials at the government communication affairs office are not available for comments today.

The horn of Africa country is facing increasing accusations of jamming to dozens of news websites and other Television broadcasters.

Last year, Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT), Voice of America and Deutsche Welle Amharic Services accused the Ethiopian government of blocking their transmission. An allegation Addis Ababa denies.

Following the accusations, The Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association (EFJA) has accused china of being behind providing the technology, training and technical assistance to Ethiopia’s jamming activity.

The group called on China to immediately put an end to what the group said the republic’s illegal support

(ST)

Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of jamming satellite broadcast

January 10th, 2012 - 17:57 UTC

by Andy Sennitt.

Text of report in English by Eritrean Ministry of Information’s Shabait website on 10 January

Asmara, 10 January: The source of the jamming being conducted against Eritrean satellite broadcast has been confirmed to be Ethiopia. Disclosing this fact, the Riyadh-based Arab Satellite Communications said that it has told the regime in Addis Ababa that the practice is illegal.

In connection with this, Mr Asmelash Abraha, director general of Eritrean Television, told Erina [Eritrean News Agency] that in continuation of its hostile policy of blocking information disseminated from Eritrea, the TPLF [Tigray People's Liberation Front, dominant party with in Ethiopian ruling coalition] regime, with the complicity of external forces, is engaged in jamming and interfering activities.

He further reminded that the aforementioned organization that it has both legal and organizational responsibility to ensure uninterrupted service for the satellite broadcast for which Eritrea has made heavy investment, and thus take legal action against the Addis Ababa regime which is conducting illegal jamming activities.

Mr Asmelash also underlined that “regimes that conduct such airwave banditry are those which lack courage and capacity to face the truth being disseminated.”

(Source: Shabait website, Asmara, in English 10 Jan 12 via BBC Monitoring)

Syria “most likely” behind Al-Jazeera jamming - paper

Syria “most likely” behind Al-Jazeera jamming - paper

December 28th, 2011 - 15:43 UTC

by Andy Sennitt.

No comments yet

Excerpt from report by Qatari newspaper Al-Rayah website on 24 December

The Al-Jazeera news network suffered deliberate interference to its [satellite] signals on 23 December, preventing many viewers from watching its broadcasts.

The network’s management announced new frequencies for the channel: via Nilesat on 11564 and 10853 [MHz], horizontal [polarization], 27500 [symbol rate], 3/4 [FEC]; and via Arabsat on 10890 vertical, 27500, 3/4.

By the evening of 23 December, the network had been unable to discover the source of the interference that was interrupting broadcasts via both satellites. A source close to the network said that the source of the interference was most likely Syria, based on Al-Jazeera’s coverage of the events there, which attracted international attention over the coverage of demonstrations and the repressive acts that are being exercised against rebels.

Al-Jazeera is being prevented from covering events, and counter-media campaigns target its staff. Three months ago, Al-Jazeera adopted new frequencies on the Nilesat and Arabsat satellites. The signal interference that the channel is suffering this time coincides with the painful and bloody events that the Syrian people are being subjected to during their revolt, especially after the network has shown over the past months a number of clips that reveal the actual torture and intentional murder of the unarmed rebels by the Syrian authorities.

[Passage omitted: Al-Jazeera jammed during Egyptian, Libyan uprisings]

(Source: Al-Rayah website, Doha, in Arabic 24 Dec 11 via BBC Monitoring)

US Condemns Jamming of 'Virtual Embassy Tehran'

December 07, 2011

US Condemns Jamming of 'Virtual Embassy Tehran'

The United States has condemned Iran's blockage of an interactive online "Virtual U.S. Embassy Tehran," less than 24 hours after it was officially launched in Washington.

In a statement Wednesday, the White House said that "through this action, the Iranian government has once again demonstrated its commitment to build an electronic curtain of surveillance and censorship around its people." The statement said "Tehran's systematic efforts to deny information to its citizens and to control what the Iranian people see and hear is doomed to fail in a 21st century when technology is empowering citizens around the globe."

The State Department launched the virtual diplomatic mission Tuesday, saying it is aimed at bridging the gap between Iranians and Americans that has existed since diplomatic relations were severed more than 30 years ago.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the unprecedented Internet project "a vehicle for the two peoples to communicate without fear." In her welcome video, Clinton also noted that thanks to the new technologies like the Web site, Iranians can find information about opportunities to study in America or obtain visas to come and visit.

Under-Secretary of State for political affairs Wendy Sherman said the online project is an effort to skirt the "electronic curtain" erected by Tehran to block Internet links between Iranians and the outside world.

The Iranian move came as representatives of five international broadcasters met in London to discuss the deliberate jamming of their broadcast signals in countries such as Iran that seek to prevent free access to information.

Voice of America joined the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Audiovisuel Exterieur de la France and Radio Netherlands Worldwide in signing a statement Wednesday, condemning the practices and calling for action to stop it.

In the statement, the five broadcasters say they have seen an escalation this year in the number of pressure tactics that have been used on the media accessed by audiences in Iran and other countries. They asked regulatory authorities to take action against those who deliberately cause interference to satellite signals on the grounds that this is contrary to international conventions.

Secretary Clinton announced the plans for the "Virtual U.S. Embassy Tehran" in an interview with VOA's Persian News Network in late October. Iran responded by saying the project will not succeed.

But U.S. officials expressed confidence that the new project will be popular, saying a State Department Persian Facebook page created earlier this year has already had about one million "hits."

Iranians are invited to contribute comments and criticism through links to State Department Twitter and Facebook accounts provided on the new website.

The U.S. virtual embassy web site is available in English at "Tehran.usembassy.gov" or "iran.usembassy.gov" and in Persian at "Persian.iran.usembassy.gov".

International broadcasters say Iran is increasing efforts to jam foreign broadcasts

By Associated Press, Published: December 8

LONDON — Leading international broadcasters on Wednesday accused Iran of increasing its intimidation of foreign media and accelerating efforts to jam satellite broadcasts in Farsi from reaching Iranian audiences.

Following a meeting of senior media executives in London, Voice of America, the British Broadcasting Corporation, Germany’s Deutsche Welle, France’s AEF and Radio Netherlands Worldwide issued a joint statement calling for an end to attempts to block independent media.

Iran has previously been criticized over its efforts to jam broadcasts and block websites of foreign-based Farsi-language media, including BBC Persian and Voice of America.

“We call upon the regulatory authorities to take action against those who deliberately cause interference to satellite signals,” the broadcasters said in a statement, urging national authorities to take up the issue at a meeting of the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva.

Tehran has accused the BBC, along with the British government, of fomenting the mass protests that broke out after Iran’s disputed presidential election in 2009.

In September, the BBC said jamming from within Iran had been expanded to target Eutelsat’s W3A satellite, which covers Africa, Europe and parts of the Middle East.

Iranian authorities have also questioned an unspecified number of people over their alleged links to BBC’s Farsi-language service, and arrested six independent filmmakers for allegedly providing the BBC with video and news reports perceived as damaging to Iran.

“We have seen an escalation this year in the number of pressure tactics that have been used on the media being accessed by audiences in Iran and other countries,” the broadcasters said in their statement.

The issue was discussed at a meeting in London of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the U.S. government funded agency which has channels broadcasting to about 187 million people in 100 countries.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Internet Censorship Growth Hampers News, Study Says

By JOHN MARKOFF

Published: October 11, 2011

A detailed study of Internet censorship in China and Iran shows that blocking techniques are changing rapidly and are becoming significant new obstacles for news organizations, governments and businesses.

The study, being published on Tuesday, focuses on Internet blocking faced by Iranian and Chinese visitors to BBC Web sites during periods of political unrest in the two countries over the last two years.

“This problem of Internet control is becoming an issue for more than human rights concerns,” said an author of the report, Ronald Deibert, the director of the Canada Center for Global Security Studies and the Citizen Lab, a University of Toronto organization that focuses on Internet security. “The fact is that you have dozens of countries not just filtering for porn, but political filtering and key events as well.”

The study, by the BBC and Dr. Deibert’s center, acknowledges that the Internet accounts for only about 13 percent of the broadcaster’s global audience, which totaled 225 million people in 2010-11. But it is increasingly important in authoritarian countries; for example, there are now 500 million Chinese Internet users, many times the number that listen to shortwave broadcasts.

The study documents the activities of firewall censorship during a variety of political events, including anniversaries of events like the Tiananmen Square protests.

The activities of censoring authorities are not easily predictable and can change rapidly, the authors say, adding that broadcasters must be ready to engage in a “cat and mouse” game with censors by constantly monitoring government firewall systems and by clever use of alternatives like Twitter and other social media.

Government censorship of broadcasters goes back at least to World War II, the report says. The Nazis enacted strict laws to prevent Germans from listening to foreign broadcasts, and radios were designed so they could not receive the broadcasts. During the cold war, the Soviets began an intensive radio-jamming campaign, and the United States responded with a “ring plan” — vast deployments of strategically placed shortwave transmitters meant to overwhelm the jammers.

The report, “Casting a Wider Net: Lessons Learned in Delivering BBC Content on the Censored Internet,” says the news media will need to form alliances to combat censorship efforts.

“Vietnam has been learning its blocking technology from China,” said the lead author, Karl Kathuria, the BBC’s senior operations manager. “One of our recommendations is that broadcasters get together as well.”

To help make its service available through firewalls, BBC has collaborated with Psiphon, a software firm that is a spinoff of the University of Toronto computer security researchers. The firm supplies circumvention software to BBC and the Voice of America as well as other organizations.

There are several ways to avoid firewall blocking systems. One of them, known as a Web proxy, routes requests for Web pages through an intermediate Internet address.