Radio chat to cost property companies

By Yang Lifei and Zou Qi  |   2008-6-25  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

PROPERTY management companies in Shanghai will be charged frequency fees for each walkie-talkie used, the Shanghai Radio Administration Bureau said yesterday.

According to a notice issued by the bureau and the Shanghai Housing, Land and Resource Administration, the policy will be gradually implemented from next month. It will first be rolled out in non-residential areas and then move to residential communities.

More than 10,000 property management companies in the city will be using standard radio walkie-talkies and specific frequency wave bands in July, said the notice.

"We have begun to conduct an inspection of property management firms throughout the city, and those who have not registered such equipment will be ordered to register as soon as possible," said an official surnamed Cao with the Shanghai Radio Administration Bureau.

The regulations mean that every walkie-talkie will cost 100 yuan (US$14.6) in registration and each frequency will cost another 1,000 yuan per year. A property company that manages a medium-sized community with 10 to 15 walkie-talkies will be charged 2,000 yuan to 2,500 yuan every year.

By the end of the month all property companies will be asked to register their equipment at the Shanghai Radio Administration Bureau. Those who fail to register but continue to use a wave band will be fined up to 5,000 yuan.

"Non-registered walkie-talkies occupy national radio frequencies and lead to frequency interference, which may affect the operations of radio stations," Cao said.

"To maintain order on air especially during the Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, it is necessary to register walkie-talkies used by local property companies," she added.