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TELEVISION SHOULD MAKE DECISION ON ITS OWN
A1+
[05:41 pm] 10 September, 2008
Today Media support Internews organization expressed its opinion On
the Amendments to the RA Law on Television and Radio.
Based on the examination of the substantiation of the RA new draft law
On Making Amendments to the RA Law on Television and Radio, presented
to the NA discussion on the initiative of the RA government, it follows
that the Draft adoption is untimely and, taking into consideration
the volume and significance of the regulation subject, needs a policy
to be worked out and passed, stipulated by the RA law On Legal Acts
(Article 27.)
Of course, working out the policy and action plan is stipulated by
the 5th point of the draft substantiation. However, it is expected
to implement it only after passing the draft, which, in our opinion,
will become not only a source of legal uncertainty but will also
endanger the introduction of new participants into the radio and
television market through licensing. Meantime, it is apparent from
the substantiation that at this moment it is not possible to assess
the technical requirements and, especially, the expected expenses of
the state, citizens and private broadcasters.
Besides, it is not reasonable to consider the license allotment
"temporary and useless" (see the 5th point of the substantiation,)
as well as the license suspension, since broadcast digitization on
behalf of licensees can be stipulated as a mandatory condition for
allotting a license. Thus, we think that entrepreneurs will have
a chance to independently decide whether it is worth applying for
a license, and whether the investment repayment and the chance to
obtain income is real possibility. The latter will emerge from the
principle of free market, without making obstacles to the natural
development of the mass media.
Finally, it should be mentioned that, based on the strategic importance
of the Draft regulation area, as well as the circumstance that the
introduction of digital communication as a sphere of cooperation
between RA and EU is specifically mentioned in the European
Neighborhood Project, in our opinion, initiating public discussions
on the issue of the above-mentioned legislative improvement and the
profound examination of its applicability on behalf of the civil
society becomes extremely necessary.
A1+
[05:41 pm] 10 September, 2008
Today Media support Internews organization expressed its opinion On
the Amendments to the RA Law on Television and Radio.
Based on the examination of the substantiation of the RA new draft law
On Making Amendments to the RA Law on Television and Radio, presented
to the NA discussion on the initiative of the RA government, it follows
that the Draft adoption is untimely and, taking into consideration
the volume and significance of the regulation subject, needs a policy
to be worked out and passed, stipulated by the RA law On Legal Acts
(Article 27.)
Of course, working out the policy and action plan is stipulated by
the 5th point of the draft substantiation. However, it is expected
to implement it only after passing the draft, which, in our opinion,
will become not only a source of legal uncertainty but will also
endanger the introduction of new participants into the radio and
television market through licensing. Meantime, it is apparent from
the substantiation that at this moment it is not possible to assess
the technical requirements and, especially, the expected expenses of
the state, citizens and private broadcasters.
Besides, it is not reasonable to consider the license allotment
"temporary and useless" (see the 5th point of the substantiation,)
as well as the license suspension, since broadcast digitization on
behalf of licensees can be stipulated as a mandatory condition for
allotting a license. Thus, we think that entrepreneurs will have
a chance to independently decide whether it is worth applying for
a license, and whether the investment repayment and the chance to
obtain income is real possibility. The latter will emerge from the
principle of free market, without making obstacles to the natural
development of the mass media.
Finally, it should be mentioned that, based on the strategic importance
of the Draft regulation area, as well as the circumstance that the
introduction of digital communication as a sphere of cooperation
between RA and EU is specifically mentioned in the European
Neighborhood Project, in our opinion, initiating public discussions
on the issue of the above-mentioned legislative improvement and the
profound examination of its applicability on behalf of the civil
society becomes extremely necessary.