Will BiH Public Broadcasters Cease Operations on April 26?

In April, specifically on April 26, 2015, the first license of the Communications Regulatory Agency (RAK) for the Public RTV Service expires, and within the validity of the first license, it is stipulated that telecommunications operators in BiH will collect the fee on behalf of the Public RTV Service, writes the Patria news agency.

As stated by Šefik Džaferović, that obligation ceases, and there are two paths: one is for the System Board to agree and establish a new method for collecting the RTV fee, and the second is to submit a proposal to the parliamentary procedure to extend this deadline.

- Whatever we do, we must do it immediately and we must not wait for April 26 and the complete collapse of all services and the Public System - said Džaferović.

The Minister of Transport and Communications of BiH, Damir Hadžić, confirmed that the delegated obligation expires on April 26.

- Today, unfortunately, we can state based on the reports we have received from the Public RTV System that the collection rate of the RTV fee has never been lower than it is in the last year. The intentions we see support the fact that the survival of the Public RTV System, i.e., all services in BiH, is largely called into question - says Hadžić.

He explained that the normative regulation in this area is very complex and speaks about whose jurisdiction it is.

- When it comes to BHRT, it is the concern of the BiH Parliament, while the entities are responsible for RTVFBiH and RTRS. We also know that there were many who had a rather negative attitude towards this issue, and they are part of the political environment in BiH. We also know that in previous parliamentary compositions, there were even those who called for not paying the RTV fee, which has largely shaken the reputation of the Public RTV Service. On the other hand, we have the inaction of those who should be working when it comes to the BiH RTV system, in which a corporation has not been established, and which expired long ago, and which could round off the system - noted Hadžić.

The minister emphasized that they have many problems with the implementation of obligations.

- This ministry, with the Parliamentary Commission, can try to reach a proposal for a legal solution in the shortest possible period if there is political consensus from the new BiH Parliament composition. We are ready to sit down with the new composition tomorrow and try to find the best solution that will aim to prevent the complete collapse of the public RTV system financially - added Hadžić.