Another Blow to Online Media in Egypt Coming on the way !!

As soon as I read “ The National Media Authority “ Draft law in Al-Watan Newspaper , I knew that I will be a big blow to Internet Media and Social media in Egypt.
“The National Media Authority” is a new authority to be founded in Egypt replacing the Current Egyptian Radio and Television Union “ERTU” if its draft law is approved by the upcoming

Source : Free Press 

parliament. The draft law does not regulate the official televised and radio media in Egypt but also any sort of broadcast in Egypt whether through Satellite or Online.
As soon as I put my eyes on Article “16” mentioned in the report I knew private online radio stations in Egypt as well Online live streams like Bambuser and US stream will be banned in Egypt.
Article 16 stipulates the following :

No party or person is allowed to use any means or device or technology for live broadcast  or re-broadcast through  Satellites or  Internet for any event inside Egypt.  Also re-airing the broadcast owned by National Media authority in public places or residential gatherings or means of transportation is banned except for a paid authorization issued from the authority and who will violates this pay a fine determined by authority.

All what I can think about that it will be a crime in Egypt to broadcast anything on Bambuser according to this law. Private Online Radio services like Gramafoon and Radio Horytna will be banned as well.
Bambuser played an essential role in transferring events and protests as well clashes in the past 5 years in Egypt in real time.It was the only thing that transferred protests on air in the past 2 years.
Radio Horytna was the first Egyptian private online radio service that started its broadcast in 2008 founded by Andalus Institute for tolerance and anti-violence studies.
Interestingly earlier this month security stormed Radio Horytna HQ in Cairo arresting Ahmed Samih , the director of Andalus Institute as well head of Radio Horytna. Samih was under investigation for broadcasting without a permit. He was also asked about the political affiliation of Radio Horytna. He was also accused of possessing illegal copy of Windows OS !!
Samih was released later but the message was received.
Radio Gramafoon is by far the most famous Online Radio service in Egypt after 2011. May be I am biased because I am big fan of Gramafoon , which started as a Free-ad Online 24/7 classical Arabic music Radio station and then extended to include other stations like Jazz , Arabic Folk , Soundtrack and Western Classic Music.


Young people used to download the Gramafoon radio apps whether on android and iOS
Gramafoon already was having hard times and with that draft law , Gramafoon founder Ahmed Kamal decided it was no use unfortunately.
In an announcement published on Gamafoon’s official Facebook page on April 25 , Kamal stated starting from 5 May 2015 Gramafoon would suspend its service online and its online archive because simply if that law is applied , all those working in Gramafoon Radio will be sent to jail.

عيد ميلاد جرامافون الرابع بعد أيام و في كل سنة اليوم ده بيكون نسبيًا مختلف على الراديو بس السنه دي قررنا نحتفل بشكل مختل...
Posted by ‎Gramafoon.com - جرامافون‎ on Saturday, April 25, 2015 

Anyhow Ahmed Kamal announced that he would upload its huge archive on torrent. Of course I do not understand much.
January 25 revolution’s slogans including freedom and freedom includes the freedom of expression as well the freedom of media. I do not know what to say , the world is witnessing how media is liberated from the State’s authority as well corporate's authority around the globe thanks to the Internet and yet we insist in 2015 to have 1960s media !!!!
Now quick fact about Radio channel industry in Egypt. There is full state-control on radio. Nogoom FM and Nile FM are actually joint venture between ERTU and Good News. Nagham FM is also a joint venture between ERTU and Mazzika TV channel. 
Historically Radio service in Egypt started as privately owned. Oh Yes in 1924 privately owned radio stations started to flourish in Egypt but they were nationalized in 1934 and since then the State got full control on Radio stations in Egypt.
Of course Sisi supporters say that the Egyptian people are not ready for freedom of media and that we need that 1960s media El-Sisi explicitly wished over and over to have just like Nasser.
I will say one thing , it started with online streaming and it will end with banning blogs and twitter.