Estonia

[EE] Discussions on Cable Bill

IRIS 1997-10:1/31

Wolfram Schnur

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

The draft of a Cable Act in Estonia provides for sector monopoly for cable network operators. Under the Bill, a single licence would be awarded for a specified area. The proposal has been variously received by the Estonian cable network operators. The Estonian Cable Union, to which the majority of cable operators belong, feels the Act is counter to competition, while the Estonian Union of Cable Operators is in favour of the Act, as the reduced competition would mean that less investment was required.