Latvia

[LV] New Law on Electronic Communications Passed

IRIS 2004-5:1/18

Lelda Ozola

MEDIA Desk Latvia Riga

On 15 April 2004 the Cabinet of Ministers passed a new Law on Electronic Communications in Latvia. This law will replace the existing Law on Telecommunications.

The former Law on Telecommunications was adopted on 1 November 2001, and it regulated the telecommunication services in a competitive environment. Under the new Law Latvia harmonizes its legislation with communications legislation on a European level adopted in 2002.

The Law regulates the competences of the public electronic communications institutions, private electronic communications network owners and the users of electronic communications services, as well as the competences of the state institutions connected with the management of the electronic communications branch, maintenance of electronic communications network, as well as allotment, use and management of the limited resources ­ radio frequencies, internet domains and digitalization. The new Law also refers to the electronic network necessary for the distribution of radio and television programs. However, the content of radio and television programs is regulated by the Law on Radio and Television. The new Law does not refer to the provision of information society services, the content of the information transmitted on the electronic network, or to the content of information received with the help of electronic network services.