Iceland

[IS] New Proposals for Broadcasting Act

IRIS 1999-4:1/21

Hilmar Thor Bjarnason

Faculty of Social Science University of Reykjavik

In December 1998, the Minister for Education and Culture, Mr. Björn Bjarnason, presented to the Icelandic parliament - the Althingi - a bill to modify the Broadcasting Act of 1985.

The main purpose of the bill is to update the existing legislative framework of radio and television broadcasting and to introduce new concepts and incorporate new technological changes that have emerged in the audiovisual landscape in recent years, in accordance with the Television Without Frontiers Directive. It is noteworthy that the bill concerns itself only with broadcasting within the private sector. A separate bill providing a legal framework for public service broadcasting will be presented at a later date. At present, the bill is being treated by the Althingi's Education Committee. However, due to the fact that parliamentary elections are being held in May, it seems unlikely that the bill will be up for discussion by the MPs during this parliamentary session.