A group comprising five well-known FM radio stations has announced that it will not participate in the controversial frequency auction for radio and television organized by Sutel, according to a series of posts by La Nación on November 20, 2025. The group’s decision is rooted in concerns about media freedom and the potential impact on Costa Rican democracy.
In a post published at 21:12 UTC, La Nación reported: “Un grupo con cinco conocidas radioemisoras de FM confirma que no participará en la polémica subasta de frecuencias de radio y TV de Sutel. ‘Es por la democracia de Costa Rica, están tratando de eliminar la radiodifusión’, dice empresario.” The statement highlights apprehensions among industry stakeholders regarding the objectives behind the auction process.
Eight minutes later, La Nación reiterated the announcement with another post stating: “Grupo con 5 conocidas radioemisoras en FM anuncia que no participará en subasta de frecuencias”. This message further emphasized the group’s unified stance against participating in the event.
At 21:24 UTC, La Nación referenced comments from Rodolfo Piza, who drew parallels between the current situation in Costa Rica and actions taken by former Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez to shut down media outlets. The post read: “Rodolfo Piza compara subasta de radio y TV de Rodrigo Chaves con la ofensiva de Hugo Chávez para cerrar medios en Venezuela”.
The auction of frequencies is being conducted by Sutel (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones), which is responsible for regulating telecommunications in Costa Rica. Critics argue that changes to frequency allocation processes can have significant implications for pluralism and access to independent media. In recent years, debates over broadcast regulation have intensified across Latin America as governments seek to balance modernization efforts with protections for press freedom.
Costa Rica has historically maintained a diverse media landscape. However, concerns have been raised that regulatory changes could threaten this tradition if they lead to reduced competition or limit critical voices within society.
