Minister Pol forced to take U-turn over broadcasting fees

The Ministry of Infrastructure has cancelled its previous decision, which came into force on January 1, and which substantially increased radio frequencies fees for broadcasters. The decision caused an outrage among radio station owners who accused Minister Marek Pol of introducing the changes too rapidly, and which could bankrupt many local radio stations. Even the Ombudsman, Andrzej Zoll, expressed his reservation at the decision. The broadcasters had no time to adjust their annual budgets to the new rates, which were published at the last minute on December 30 in Dziennik Ustaw. Even the head of the Radio and Television Council (KRRiTV) Juliusz Braun, expressed his anger that the decision about increasing fees was not consulted with the Council. The combined forces of these protests forced Pol to cancel the increase. In an effort to save face, Pol declared that the move had not been fully consulted with him. (Puls Biznesu, p. 10) M.M.