Draft bill modifying law n· 86-1067 of 30 September 1986 relative to freedom of communication
(previously modified)What is its purpose?
The rapid evolution of audiovisual communication techniques, coupled with the fact that telecommunications services and infrastructures are opening up to competition, and because of community obligations, a reform to the law of 1986 is called for.
· In the first instance, the bill specifies a single regime for the broadcast of audiovisual communication services via satellite. It proposes the following:
- to disassociate regulations for networks from regulations on content, in accordance with the new law on telecommunications regulations and European directives,
- to define a regime which is coherent with that for cable networks by making it mandatory that each service broadcast by satellite be approved,
- and, finally, to adapt those measures of the law of 1986 for preserving pluralism to the particular nature of this broadcast mode.
· In the second instance, the bill aims to harmonise French law with the "Borderless Television" directive currently being revised, notably by determining a domain of application of the law which conforms with criteria specified therein. The bill also allows for the introduction of the directive relative to transmission norms for television signals into French law.
· In the third instance, the attached bill extends the powers of the High Council for Broadcast with regard to verification that programmes respect a code of conduct, the recommendations that the Council makes, and the sanctions which it can enforce.
· In the fourth instance, this bill introduces a number of modifications to the statutes of Radio France, Radio France Internationale and the Institut national de l'audiovisuel (National Audiovisual Institute). Lastly, it allows for national television programmes to be retransmitted by private local stations in French overseas territories (départements d'Outre-mer).