 In 2001, there were 500 independent radio stations in Venezuela and only 1 state-sanctioned station.In August 2009, Diosdado Cabello, then director of the National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL), ordered the intervention of 32 radio and 2 television stations, decision that received the name of "Radiocide".In 2017, the Maduro government removed 46 radio stations from the air according to the National Union of Workers of the Press.