Call for applications for FM radio stations in French Polynesia

The Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication (ARCOM) is launching a call for applications for the operation of full-time terrestrial FM radio services within the jurisdiction of ARCOM French Polynesia. The procedure is opened by Decision No. 2026-444 of September 9, 2026 (NOR RCAC2624279S), published in the JORF No. 0215 of September 15, 2026.

Candidates have until November 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM, Paris time (or 12:59 PM, Tahiti time) to submit their application, otherwise it will be deemed inadmissible. The call concerns associative radios and independent local or regional overseas radios.

A framework established by the law of September 30, 1986

The procedure is part of the framework of the law of September 30, 1986, relating to freedom of communication, which governs the allocation of radio frequencies. The frequencies subject to the call and their technical conditions of use are listed in the annex to the decision, subject to the government exercising the right of priority reservation for the benefit of a national programming company, or the application of the right of extension provided for in Article 29-1 of the aforementioned law.

Should a frequency become unavailable, the Authority will publish a decision in the Official Journal of the French Republic and the Official Journal of French Polynesia indicating the withdrawn radio resource. The authorizations issued at the end of the call will be published in these two official journals.

Two categories of services in the call

The call for applications concerns two categories of radio services:

• Category A: associative radio services fulfilling a local social communication mission, whose commercial resources from brand advertising or sponsorship are less than 20% of their total turnover;
• Category B: independent local or regional radio services that do not broadcast an identified national-oriented program, and whose coverage area does not exceed six million inhabitants.

In both cases, the local interest program, excluding advertising, must represent a daily broadcast of at least four hours, between 6 AM and 10 PM. Holders may use the retransmission of program elements provided by third parties, subject to a fee, while maintaining total independence from their provider.

Submission and processing of applications

Applications must be submitted via the online service demarche.numerique.gouv.fr, the link for which is published on the Authority’s website (www.arcom.fr). The form can also be obtained from ARCOM French Polynesia (telephone: 00-689-54-38-88; email: arcom.polynesie-francaise@arcom.fr). The application, written in French, consists of six parts: call and category, presentation of the candidacy, information on the legal entity, programming characteristics, financing arrangements and human resources, and technical broadcasting characteristics.

ARCOM French Polynesia reviews the applications, and the technical committee then submits an opinion to the Authority, which proceeds with the selection of candidates. The proposed broadcasting sites must be approved and consulted with the National Frequency Agency (Agence nationale des fréquences). The agreement provided for in Article 28 of the Law of September 30, 1986, must be signed within eight weeks following notification of the selection.

Twenty-four frequencies distributed across the territory

The annex to the decision lists 24 allotments distributed across several archipelagos of French Polynesia:

• Windward Islands: island of Tahiti (Afaahiti-Taravao-Papeari, Mahina, Mont Marau, Papara, Papeete, Punaauia-Paea, Tiarei), with frequencies from 88.6 to 107.3 MHz;
• Marquesas Islands: Nuku Hiva island (Taiohae) and Nuku Hiva and Ua-Pou islands;
• Leeward Islands: island of Raiatea (Uturoa);
• Tuamotu-Gambier Islands: Rangiroa atoll.

The maximum radiated apparent power ranges from 200 W to 6,000 W, depending on the zones, with maximum antenna heights between 15 and 1,500 meters. Transmitters must comply with the ETSI EN 302 018 V2.1.1 standard.

An opportunity for the local radio landscape

This call offers community organizations and local operators in French Polynesia the opportunity to obtain full-time FM frequencies in a territory where radio coverage remains uneven between the archipelagos. Selection will prioritize the pluralism of socio-cultural currents of expression, the diversification of operators, and the contribution to the production of locally produced programs for the benefit of overseas listeners.