Frequency row nears end
Commercial radio stations were given a boost last week when the Communications Ministry and the National Radio and Television Council (KRRiTV) moved closer to ending their row over the distribution of frequencies.
"We received a letter from the parliamentary culture and media committee, which was signed by the Sejm's speaker Maciej Plazynski, that gives the (communications) minister a mandate to resolve the dispute on radio frequencies," said Przemyslaw Sypniewski, adviser to the communications minister.
"The committee decided the issue that way because it was possible that the council could otherwise repeat mistakes described in the Supreme Board of Inspection (NIK) report." NIK's September report found faults in the way the council implemented conditions for Radio Maryja's license.
Under the law, the council's chairman, in agreement with the communications minister, is required to run an announcement in the press stating the number of available concessions and when broadcasters can begin to apply for them.
But the communications minister's plans to maximize the distribution of radio frequencies and reshape the existing network calls for sparing 12 additional frequencies out of 103 used by Radio Zet and RMF FM. These frequencies could then be granted to other broadcasters without affecting the two stations. The council, however, said that only five out of the 12 frequencies could be saved since the removal of the other seven would affect the quality of the two radio stations.
"We even softened our stance to reach a compromise, but now the situation is dramatic and the chairman's hands are tied," said Joanna Stepien, spokesperson for Juliusz Braun, KRRiTV chairman. "The ministry promised to meet today to present the results of additional analysis conducted by the National Communications Institute in Wroclaw, but nobody showed up."
Sypniewski said that at the last meeting with the council, the minister agreed to present the analysis by Nov. 10. "I learned today that the institute confirmed our point regarding maximizing the frequency market," he said. "We are still waiting for the results of the monitoring of the two other networks, that of Radio Maryja and of the diocese radio stations (including Radio Plus). I hope that the ministry will get the final results by Friday."
He added that the minister could call a press conference on the frequencies as early as this week.
