The public grievances regarding the radio and television digitization process have not yet begun to fade. People are concerned about whether a few months later when we switch-over to digital broadcasting they will not be able to watch most of the TV channels on their old model TV sets, hence they have to spend additional funds for acquisition of decoding devices. This issue is also covered in the RA Ombudsman’s annual report. The document reads on this issue, “Insufficient public awareness on radio and television digitization process, as well as lack of sufficient guarantees for socially vulnerable people jeopardizes the rights thereof to freedom of information.”
Aravot.am inquired from the Chairman of Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, Ashot Melikyan, about what revisions are conducted by the public officials pertaining to solving the problem, especially since these issues were addressed in the Ombudsman’s report, which means that there are risks in this area related to human rights violations, Mr. Melikyan replied, “A political decision has been made that no provincial TV stations will be shut down. The government is preparing a bill, according to which the transition deadline of shutting down the analogue broadcasting is postponed by six months. It will be extended to another half a year, until January 1, 2016”. Note that the main reason for protraction is caused by yet unresolved social problems so that they will be able to manage the process of delivering free decoding devices, as well as to ensure the access of multiplexes to the market. Ashot Melikyan is sure that the solution to given problems of is up to the RA international obligation, and, this way or another, all these issues need to be resolved. “It’s another matter that as per the obligations, they do not accomplish it on time, but relevant entities are working on the lists of vulnerable people to give a start to the process.”
Note that in compliance with the government decision, a tender should be announced to import decoders to the country by the number of vulnerable people. Ashot Melikyan noted that necessary legislative amendments are required. “In compliance with the law on Television and Radio, it is not possible to solve these technical issues, for instances, the access of multiplexers to the market is not regulated by this law. Therefore, the government officials assure that our submitted bill underlies their elaborated bill, which will regulate these issues.” Note that the bill was submitted by the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, the Yerevan Press Club and the Center for Media Initiatives. It is now in the National Assembly and based on this, the Government of Armenia is elaborating a new bill. To our question of how to avoid the violations of people’s right to receive information, Ashot Melikyan replied, “Digitization should not cause any family remain devoid of receiving digital signals and the right to receive information on TV. It is also up to the RA international obligation and they are just obligated to provide it. This approach is also provided for in the digitization concept paper adopted in 2009.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
