ARTICLE 19 has prepared a Submission outlining some of the international standards which should be taken into account in the legislative framework concerning digital switchover in Romania. Key issues raised in the submission relate to the need for a participatory process for spectrum planning and that the digital dividend is used in the overall public interest.
The ARTICLE 19 Submission highlights a number of international standard-setting documents relevant to digital switchover, which establish that freedom of expression safeguards apply to the digital switchover and the digital environment. These are already reflected in digital switchover regulations adopted recently by some States. Among other things, the Submission notes State obligations:
- to regulate the digital switchover
- to initiate and stimulate public participation in radio spectrum management
- to ensure that radio spectrum management is based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria
- to ensure universal access to public service media
- to manage the digital dividend in the public interest
- to guarantee the interoperability of conditional access systems
- to guarantee pluralism and to prevent media concentration
- to ensure that audiovisual content promotes a certain minimum level of public interest objectives, such as the protection of minors and human dignity
- to preserve the social remit of public service media.
http://www.article19.org/pdfs/analysis/romania-the-digital-switchover.pdf
