Radio silence grows in Venezuela as government shutters dozens of stations

FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (C) speaks during his radio program at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela December 26, 2016. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY./File Photo

CARACAS (Reuters) - In July officials from Venezuela's telecommunications regulator entered the Moda 105.1 FM radio station, in the northwestern state of Cojedes, accompanied by members of the national guard and demanding to see all the station's licensing.

Hours later they stopped it broadcasting - making Moda one of at least 50 stations in Venezuela's interior which have been closed so far this year by the Conatel regulator because it says they lack valid licenses.