Estonia

[EE] Changes in the Estonian Broadcasting Act

IRIS 2003-4:1/13

Monika Silvia Valm

Norwegian Research Centre for Computers & Law, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo

The Broadcasting Act of 1994 (see IRIS 1995-1: 8) is still in force, but has been amended several times to keep pace with developments in the field (see also article infra).

During 2002 further amendments were made to the Act. Most of them were of minor importance, following changes in other legislation. Among those changes, it is worth highlighting the amendments regarding liability.

Estonia enacted a new Penal Code in 2002. This called for changes to be made to the Broadcasting Act. Accordingly, the Broadcasting Act has a new chapter 7 on liability. The new chapter was introduced by a law of 19 June 2002, which came into force on 9 September 2002. The chapter lays down fines for violations of the Broadcasting Act. Violations of broadcasting licences can be punished by fines of up to EEK 50 000 (circa EUR 3200) and violations of the Broadcasting Act with fines up to EEK 40 000 (circa EUR 2550). Under Article 43 (2), licences can still be suspended or revoked by the Ministry of Culture, if the licensee continually fails to fulfil the conditions specified by the licence, repeatedly violates the requirements of the Act, or has submitted false information in order to obtain the licence.