Churches warned of radio threat to air-traffic control

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has had to tell a number of churches to stop broadcasting Masses because of possible interference with air-traffic control.

The Irish Aviation Authority complained to ComReg that it was experiencing interference with the radio frequency used for air traffic control and suggested that Catholic church broadcasts could be causing the problem.

Churches across the country regularly broadcast Sunday services to a limited local area to facilitate parishioners who cannot attend Mass because of illness or infirmity.

ComReg investigated the complaint and determined it was possible these broadcasts could interfere with flight control.

It subsequently asked three churches in Kildare, Meath and Kilkenny to stop their broadcasts.

It also informed the churches that such broadcasts were illegal because they were being transmitted without a radio licence and were in effect "pirate" broadcasts.

A spokesman for ComReg said yesterday that no legal proceedings have been initiated or are currently planned against any church. Although all such unlicensed broadcasts are illegal, he said, ComReg has not contacted other churches outside the aviation authority's area of concern.

It has emerged, however, that parishes across the country are voluntarily abandoning their broadcasts in fear of the possible legal ramifications.

A number of parish newsletters issued on Sunday informed parishioners that the service was being terminated, while RTÉ's Liveline show yesterday took calls from a number of priests and parishioners disappointed by the scrapping of the service.

The Catholic Communications Office said the broadcasting of Mass was an important community service and it had not been made aware of the problem by ComReg. "The service is particularly important for people who are sick or who are in hospital or hospices or for some other reason are unable to attend services," said Martin Long, director of the office. "We do not condone any illegal activity but we would like to sit down and discuss this with ComReg to find mutually acceptable arrangements for the broadcast of such community services; however, ComReg to date has not contacted this office," he said.

ComReg said it understands the importance of the service but says it cannot allow illegal broadcasts that interfere with licensed transmissions, particularly when it affects emergency services such as ambulances, gardaí or the fire brigade.

ComReg said it intends to put new regulations in place later this year that will permit certain wireless public-address systems to meet the needs of religious and other community organisations.