PiS MPs file draft bill on public media

Deputy Minister of Culture Krzysztof Czabański informed that a draft bill on public media, which will turn them into "national" media as of July 1, has been filed with the Sejm. The bill will replace the radio and television licence with an obligatory audiovisual fee of PLN 15 per month to be paid with electricity bills. Seniors above 75, handicapped people and veterans will be exempt from the new levy. Apart from that, the draft bill envisages the establishment of the National Media Council tasked with naming heads of public brodcasters. The six members of the council will be selected by the Sejm, the Senate and the president for six-year terms. Among the candidates chosen by the Sejm, one seat will be reserved for the representative of the biggest opposition party. The changes will affect Polish Radio, pubic tv broadcaster TVP,  17 local radio stations and the Polish Press Agency (PAP).