Bosnia-Herzegovina

[BA] CRA's Proposal for Licence Fee Structure

IRIS 2003-4:1/9

Dusan Babic

Media Analyst, Sarajevo

On 20 March 2003 the Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) announced the beginning of public consultations regarding its proposal on the possible structure of the licence fee.

The Law on Communications (see IRIS 2002-10: 13) stipulates that the CRA is financed by licence fees. Currently, the CRA relates the amount of the licence fee to the power of the emitter (CRA Rule 03/199). The proposed changes should bring the calculation basis into line with European standards and international obligations in relation to the use and allocation of the frequency spectrum. According to the new structure, the fees will be based on the population covered by a broadcaster. There shall be three categories of population range and the proposed fees are calculated accordingly. The lowest category states that broadcasters that cover up to only 2000 inhabitants shall not be obliged to pay any fee. Comments should be submitted to the CRA by 31 May 2003.