The linking of radio stations across Indonesia is a very powerful tool for allowing access to audio broadcasting materials particularly concerning democracy and mutual support in the development of field reporting capacity. Indonesia s geographical particularities, radio is the only medium that can reach remote areas. Moreover, Indonesians have a strong, deeply rooted oral tradition and illiteracy levels remain high, particularly in rural settings. With some 769 private commercial stations spread over the archipelago of Indonesia, radio represents the only accessible medium and source of information for a large part of the population. The law of Indonesian broadcasting still restricts community radio.
Every station has to be a private station with clear company legal status.
Most rural radio stations in Indonesia are small structures with modest and often outdated equipment. Computer technology was rarely used except for administration. Broadcasters were not trained journalists, and had no responsibility to produce local news. The lack of qualified human resources is still a major issue. This had an enormous importance before the 1999 elections.