CCA advises the Parliament to amend the Audio-Visual Code Draft

Audio-Visual Coordinating Council (CCA) submitted to the Parliament a series of proposals for amending the Audio-Visual Code Draft, passed two weeks ago in first reading. CCA proposes to change the content of the art. 23 of the Code, stipulating that for radio stations the broadcasting license is given for 7 years, and for TV stations for 5 years. CCA considers that the terms have to be reversed. The Council also proposed to prolong the term for starting broadcasting TV programs, after providing the license, from 6 months to 1 year. CCA proposed as well to replace the notion „public radio broadcaster” into „public radio broadcasters”. According to CCA members, there are several public mass media institutions. The majority of other proposals to change the Code referred to some editing issues. The Parliament approved the draft of Code on 6 April 2006. Reporters, politicians and media organizations, which consider that the draft contains many deficiencies, unacceptable for the activity of audio-visual in Moldova. Ther are criticized especially the provisions regarding CCA members appointment, the fact that this Code excludes of media area the local public radio broadcasters, as well as other stipulations, which, in their opinion, are against democratic norms and recommendations of the Council of Europe. The draft will be submitted to the CoE expertise.