(AMARC/IFEX) – According to information released on 22 May 1998, AMARC has called on the European Union to recognise the community broadcaster sector within its definition of public service broadcasting and to take steps to assist community broadcasters to adapt to technological change and media convergence. Responding to the European Commission Green Paper on media […]
(AMARC/IFEX) – According to information released on 22 May 1998, AMARC has
called on the European Union to recognise the community broadcaster sector
within its definition of public service broadcasting and to take steps to
assist community broadcasters to adapt to technological change and media
convergence.
Responding to the European Commission Green Paper on media convergence,
AMARC has drafted a report outlining a public policy framework for the
survival and development of the community broadcasting sector in Europe. It
calls for access to sufficient radio frequencies and channels, the
development of appropriate digital transmission systems, and financial
support to the sector. It draws particular attention to the difficulties for
local and community broadcasters posed by current plans for digital
broadcasting. It argues that contrary to the widespread belief that “digital
means more”, the proposed systems could exclude local and community
broadcasting from the future media landscape.
The report, prepared by the European office of AMARC, argues that media
regulation cannot be left to the market alone and that new international
communication rights and standards are needed to underpin the regulation of
the convergent sectors of telecommunications, media and information
technology.
The AMARC report was prepared by the European office of AMARC and launched
at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday 19 May 1998. Copies of the
report are available on line at
