The Ministry of Communications sent a draft satellite radio broadcasting bill to various entities yesterday. The draft states that the minister of communications will have the authority to award radio broadcast licenses and determine the license terms.
The Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting will set the regulations covering broadcast content only for private subscribers, while the Second Broadcasting Authority Council will set the corresponding regulations for broadcasts to the general public.
The bill will set the terms for digital radio broadcasts via satellite and received throughout the country. Satellite radio stations can finance broadcasts from advertising, subscriptions, or a combination of both.
The Ministry of Communications hopes that the bill will be passed quickly, before stations from other countries use up the available satellite frequencies. No law currently regulates nationwide commercial radio broadcasts. The Second Broadcasting Authority Law only regulates the granting of licenses for regional commercial radio stations.
There is a shortage of frequencies under the current system for radio broadcasting, and satellite radio broadcasting will allow for the operation of more stations.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on June 3, 2004