Lithuania

[LT] Law on Electronic Communications

IRIS 2004-5:1/31

Rainer Großhans

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

On 15 April 2004 the Lithuanian Parliament passed a new law on electronic communications. The law is mainly designed to facilitate the transposition of some EU directives in the telecommunications field.

In terms of content, it governs issues relevant to the public in connection with electronic communication networks and services, including the institutions and services involved and the use of such electronic communication facilities. It also makes reference to questions of radio equipment, reception devices and electromagnetic compatibility.

Furthermore, the law has as its objective the regulation of electronic communication activities in the Lithuanian Republic within the framework of EU legal requirements. The provisions on electronic communication activities are based on the basic principles of effective management, the use of limited resources, technological neutrality, functional equality, proportionality and a minimum necessary regulation and economic development. Effective competition, consumer protection and conditions and processes such as transparency and non-discrimination are to be ensured.