Albania

[AL] Map of Frequencies to Be Prepared

IRIS 2003-1:1/11

Hamdi Jupe

Albanian Media Monitoring Center

On 7 November 2002 the Albanian Parliament unanimously decided to suspend the ongoing licensing process for new private radio and television until March 2003. During this period a map of frequencies for radio and television broadcasting will be prepared, so no new licenses will be awarded, nor will the expansions of broadcasting zones by currently operating radio and television stations be authorized.

The decision follows new amendments to Law No. 8410 of 30 September 1998 "On Public and Private Radio and Television in the Republic of Albania" by Law No. 8969 of 7 November 2002, creating a legal framework for implementation of the "Memorandum of understanding" for the mapping of radio and television frequencies in Albania, signed by the Keshilli Kombetar i Radio-televizioneve (National Council of Radio and Television - KKRT, the state authority responsible for the licensing of private radio and television), the OSCE Presence in Albania, DANIDA Albania, and IREX Albania on 24 July 2002. The mapping of radio and television signals should provide the authorities with a first accurate view of the coverage of each station and shall lead to a national frequency plan within the next five months, as about 60 private televisions and 40 radios are broadcasting under licenses issued by the KKRT.

The aforementioned amendments have been introduced after a conflict between the owners of the private radio and television on the one hand and the KKRT on the other. As to Law No. 8655 of 31 July 2000 only two licenses for nation-wide television broadcasting were to be awarded, further TV-stations - so-called "local television" - are allowed to cover only limited zones with their television signal. The map of frequencies shall produce definite findings on the technical possibilities for further nation-wide broadcasting licenses in Albania


References

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  • Law No. 8969 of 7 November 2002, "For some measures in the field of radio and television broadcasting"

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  • "Memorandum of understanding" for the mapping of radio and television frequencies in Albania, signed by the Keshilli Kombetar i Radio-televizioneve, the OSCE Presence in Albania, DANIDA Albania, and IREX Albania of 24 July 2002

This article has been published in IRIS Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual Observatory.