Hungary

[HU] Draft Act on the Digital Switchover

IRIS 2006-4:1/25

Márk Lengyel

Körmendy-Ékes & Lengyel Consulting, Budapest

In January 2006, the Government submitted a draft act “on the Rules of Digital Broadcast Transmission”to the Parliament. The proposal aims at creating the necessary legal preconditions for the introduction of digital broadcasting services in Hungary, with special regard to digital terrestrial television (DTT) services. The background of the proposed bill is provided by Act No. C. of 2003. on Electronic Communications.

The main provisions of the draft are as follows:

- The definition of the legal status of the multiplex service providers;

- A basic set of rules concerning interoperability of networks and devices used for the transmission or reception of digital services;

- The transposition of the provisions of the Access Directive related to conditional access systems;

- A basic set of rules concerning electronic programme guide services;

- Detailed provisions on questions of frequency allocation for the purposes of digital broadcasting services;

- 2012 as the date of analogue switch-off in Hungary.

In addition to these questions the bill also describes the basic institutions responsible for coordinating the process of digital transition in Hungary. In this respect the role of Digitális Átállást Koordináló Bizottság (the Commission Coordinating the Digital Switchover) has to be noted. It is planned as an intergovernmental body that also includes a representative of Országos Rádió és Televízió Tesület (the National Radio and Television Commission - ORTT), the independent regulatory authority for the media. The main role of this coordinating body would be to elaborate and to execute the national strategy for digital switchover.

According to the draft, Act No. I. of 1996 on Radio and Television Broadcasting (the Broadcasting Act) will stay untouched. As a result of this, licensing of the broadcasters would remain the responsibility of the ORTT, as also in the case of digital broadcasting.

The debates on the draft took place in February 2006 in the Parliament. The final vote is expected to be held at the following session.