Following recent developments the survival of three community radio stations in the German Federal State of Saxony, namely coloRadio (Dresden), Radio T (Chemnitz) and Radio Blau (Leipzig) is under threat from next year. At the moment, they are broadcasting a 49 hours a week „window program“ on the frequencies of Apollo Radio. The Sächsische Gemeinschaftsprogramm GmbH & Co KG, the operating company behind Apollo Radio, is currently financing the audio transmission costs for these three community radio stations.

On 13 October 2009 the Sächsische Gemeinschaftsprogramm GmbH & Co KG informed them that the current cooperation agreement for financing the audio transmission costs will be terminated on 31 December 2009. If this termination becomes real, it would mean the end of the FM broadcasting of all free radio stations in Saxonia, because all three stations, run by volunteers, have no other financial sources to pay for the audio transmission costs.

Concerning the case in Saxony, we would like to draw the decision makers’ attention to the fact that recognition for the Community Media in Saxony is insufficient according to the recent European policy documents.

The Community Media Forum Europe (CMFE) therefore:
- requests for the short term to work towards a renewal of the existing situation in where financial support for the three community radio's is guaranteed in a contract with the commercial stations;
- requests next to establish special financial support procedures according to the specificities of the Community Media sector instead of obliging them to stay dependent of commercial media;
- requests to advance in the Third Media Sector recognition watching over the European harmonization through the implementation of guidelines as the Resolution of 25 September 2008 of the European Parliament on Community Media in Europe (2008/2011 (INI)), which invites the EU Member States to recognize and to support this sector.
- supports the demand of the Bundesverband Freier Radios to financial support for the three Saxon free radio stations and the request for a legal commitment to promote non-commercial radio stations as a third sector of radio broadcasting in Saxony.

CMFE strongly recommends that the responsible Saxonian authorities, referring to the mentioned Resolution of the European Parliament and the Declaration of the Council of Europe, supports Community Media initiatives in Saxony. We ask for a serious commitment to support the sustainability and development of community radio and its continuing delivery of social and economic benefit. CMFE offers any help with expertise and welcomes feedback to this letter.

> Read the letter of support of CMFE

> Sign the petition to support community radio in Saxony

> Bundesverband Freier Radios

> (NEW) Read the response to our letter from the Sächsischen Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien (SLM) (in German only)