The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology granted SNR the licence for the broadcasting of public radio and television services on 24 November 2004, according to Law no. 504/2002, under the format applicable at that time. This licence ensured the broadcasting of the public services of SRR and SRTv (The Romanian Television Company) programmes. The initial licence validity period was 9 years from the issuance date, this term expiring on 24 November 2013. Subsequently, based on the legal provisions, this licence was temporarily extended until 31 December 2016.

 

At the beginning of March 2016, SRR requested – on its own behalf – the right to use radio frequencies with a view to transmitting the public radio broadcasting service, and is to present the technical resources it will resort to for ensuring the coverage of the national territory with the public radio broadcasting service.

 

According to the law, currently, ANCOM may grant the rights to use radio frequencies to broadcasters that provide the public radio broadcasting programmes, upon the National Audiovisual Council’s (CNA’s) issuance of the advice of conformity, where this step is necessary for achieving general interest objectives.

 

As per ANCOM’s analysis, granting the usage rights to SRR, under the legal provisions in force, sets the premises for the public radio broadcaster to continue its activity, thus being able to fulfil its mission and public interest objectives established by law.

The radio programmes transmitted through the public radio broadcasting service are Radio România Actualitati (covering approximately 90% of the national territory), România Cultural (95% territorial coverage), Antena Satelor (83% territorial coverage), România Muzical (26% territorial coverage) and 17 further regional radio programmes transmitted on ultrashort and medium waves.

 

ANCOM proposes – provided that SRR presents the solutions for ensuring the coverage of the national territory with public radio broadcasting services, and that CNA issues the advice of conformity – to grant the rights to use the radio frequencies, in analogue format, for all the transmission stations currently used for the transmission of the public radio broadcasting service.

 

ANCOM’s proposal on the usage of radio frequencies for the provision of the public radio broadcasting service is available here. The interested persons are invited to send their comments and suggestions, by 04.05.2016, to the ANCOM headquarters in 2 Delea Noua Street, Bucharest 3, directly to the ANCOM Registry Office or to the ANCOM regional divisions. Comments may also be sent by fax to +40 372 845 402 or by e-mail to: consultare@ancom.org.ro.