Venezuela imposes media restrictions, closes radio stations

 Per The New York Times, the Venezuelan government is setting new regulations on cable television, while revoking the broadcast licenses of 240 radio stations.

Government telecommunications agency head Diosdado Cabello said stations that use largely locally-produced content need to comply with strict Venezuelan laws for broadcasters. The broadcasting laws, which critics say are used to silence criticism of the government’s policies, include a requirement to air President Hugo Chávez’s speeches when demanded, per the article.

Twitter users from Caracas, Venezuela react:

1. 
   jazzdancer1 Ahora quieren silenciar las estaciones de radio y TV. Será que tienen miedo o que no les gusta que les canten las verdades? (Now they want to silence the radio and TV stations. Will they fear or do not like to sing them the truth?) 10 Jul 2009 from web
2. 
   Cinetuyoymio My good mood has gone away as I read that the Government will demand that Presidential messages be broadcast thru cable too. 10 Jul 2009 from TwitterFox
3. 
   bhorande Pueden bajar el volumen de la radio. Y hasta apagarlas. Pero no pueden bajárselo a lo que pensamos. Y menos apagarnos. (Can lower the radio volume. And they can extinguish it. But they can not download what we think. And least turn them off.)< /span> 10 Jul 2009 from Tweetie
4. 
   Gbastidas Acaban de cerrar en Anzoátegui ÓrbitaTV y ÓrbitaRadio: el único medio de oposicion que había en el estado (Just closing in Anzoátegui ÓrbitaTV and ÓrbitaRadio: the only opposition in the state had) 10 Jul 2009 from UberTwitter

Venezuelans are using Twitter to protest against the new regulations and station closures:

1. 
   nuneznoda (Venezuela) Usemos Twitter para decirle al mundo lo que está ocurriendo. #medioslibres (Let us use Twitter to tell the world what is happening. Medioslibres #) 10 Jul 2009 from TwitterBerry
2. 
   JoseManuelR (Venezuela) Don @nuneznoda (siempre brillante) nos propone iniciemos campaña mundial en defensa d nuestros medios usando #FreeMediaVe y #MediosLibres (Don @ nuneznoda (always brilliant), we proposed to begin global campaign to defend our media using FreeMediaVe # and # MediosLibres) 10 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   Cinetuyoymio (Caracas, Venezuela) Ad at least 400 radio styations are being closed. That’s it — we need to draw attention on this. Please help #FreeMediaVe 10 Jul 2009 from TwitterFox