Jordan like many Arab countries seems to be having a hard time understanding and dealing with the idea of public service broadcasting, writes Daoud Kuttab, Director General of Community Media Network which runs Radio al Balad in Amman and AmmanNet.net web site. After decades of government-owned and controlled radio and television stations Jordan under King Abdullah II began a new era of opening up the airwaves to the private sector. The Audio Visual Law enacted in 2002 which allowed the private sector to own radio and television licenses succeeded in creating a wide range of commercial stations But despite the privatization of the law Jordan has failed to create a legal environment or introduce traditions that encourages and better public service broadcasting.
