President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has signed a bill that amends certain laws on temporary broadcasting permits in the area of the anti-terrorist operation in Donbas and border regions of the country into law. A statement published on the official website of the head of state on Tuesday reads, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
According to the statement, the law aims to ensure the continuity of television and radio broadcasting for local population through the introduction of a mechanism for an accelerated issuance of temporary permits in the areas that are most vulnerable to negative information from abroad.
On 7 December 2017, Ukrainian parliament adopted the bill #6565 at second reading and as a whole. The law gives the National Council of Ukraine for Television and Radio Broadcasting the right to issue, without competition, permits for temporary broadcasting in areas under a special broadcasting regime for up to a year. The areas under a special broadcasting regime are the areas bordering the occupied territory of Ukraine in Donbas and Crimea.
Permits will be issued free of charge. According to the law, the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting will be responsible for the issuance and cancellation of permits for temporary broadcasting, the conditions for permission and supervision over compliance with the legislation during such broadcasting.
Additionally, the law allows analogue broadcasting to continue in the area under a special broadcasting regime. The law will become effective a month after its publication, except for certain provisions that will come into force on the next day after published.
