Brazil's community radio stations "face tough times".

Text of report by London-based, privately-owned Index on Censorship website on 29 April

Local broadcasters, the lifeblood of many Brazilian communities, face tough times. Rafael Spuldar reports

Community radio stations are one of Brazil's most widespread ways to democratize information and develop citizenship within the poorer urban areas and the countryside. However, many people from the community media environment feel the law does not allow these broadcasters to function at full capacity.

Community radio broadcasting was effectively regulated in Brazil in 1998 through a bill that laid out criteria and rules. Stations are required to operate in low-powered frequency modulation (FM) up to 25W. The stations' programming must also be open to all inhabitants in its coverage area, should not aim for a profit and have no connection to political parties or religious institutions.