Participatory communication will occur if in its implementation it takes into account the characteristics of the community based on their potential and local wisdom. This research examines how participatory communication is implemented in community empowerment programs on the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border. The results of the research explain that community empowerment program communication has not been fully carried out in a participatory manner with dialogue that involves the full support of the community. Government support in building communication participation has been implemented, but not all people at the border can feel it. The characteristics of the community on the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border are relatively low, as can be seen from the low level of education, income level, access to communication and low access to information. Government support has not been optimal in terms of access to information on community empowerment programs at the border.