YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 7-13, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS:

THE QUESTIONABLE GIGAHERTZES

ONLY ONE OF NEARLY 40 FREQUENCIES REMAINS UNWANTED

JOURNALIST’S POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTED

PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HUMANITARIAN LAW

THE QUESTIONABLE GIGAHERTZES

On January 12, 2005 the National Commission on Television and Radio
announced broadcast licensing competitions for frequency diapasons of
2300-2400 MHz and 2500-2700 MHz of Yerevan. The deadline for the bids in the
competitions is on April 11, 2005. The bids will be considered by the
National Commission on April 22.

The frequencies presented for the competition have a pre-history of their
own. In September last year the press questioned the legitimacy of the
launch of the so-called “supersystem”, owned by “A UP” company that got an
opportunity to rebroadcast 50 TV channels in GHz diapason. The permission
for re-broadcasting was issued by the Republican Telecommunications Center
of the RA Ministry of Transportation and Communication. On its behalf, the
National Commission on Television and Radio insisted to license these
frequencies by competition (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, September
17-23, 2004).

The dispute progressed into litigation: the suit of NCTR contained a demand
to annul the permission, issued to “A UP” company by the Republican
Telecommunications Center. On December 2 the court of primary jurisdiction
of Center and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan approved the reconciliation
agreement between NCTR, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication,
Republican Telecommunications Center and “A UP” LLC. According to the
agreement signed, the Ministry and the Republican Telecommunications Center,
as one of its subdivisions, refused from claiming the 2300-27000 MHz
diapason and annulled their previous resolutions on the broadcasting
activities of “A UP”. The right to the diapason was stipulated to belong to
NCTR that assumed a commitment of announcing a competition for it.

As noted above, the applicants and winners for these frequencies will be
determined in spring. Yet, notably, the “supersystem” is being advertised on
Armenian TV air, with particular intensity on New Year’s Eve. The viewers
are informed how, even today, one can watch several dozens of channels.

ONLY ONE OF NEARLY 40 FREQUENCIES REMAINS UNWANTED

On December 27, 2004 the National Commission on Television and Radio
considered the bids submitted to the broadcast licensing competitions
announced on September 16. As it has been reported, five vacant UHFs in a
number of Armenian cities were put on the competitions: 22nd in
Yeghegnadzor, 22nd in Spitak, 26th in Dilijan, 33rd in Gyumri and 36th in
Vardenis (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 10-16, 2004).

Three frequencies received one application each: 22nd in Yeghegnadzor was
claimed by “Dzori Kanch” LLC, 33rd in Gyumri – “CHAP” LLC, and 36th in
Vardenis – “SAMELON” LLC. The 22nd frequency of Spitak is contested by three
LLCs – “Anna ev Karen”, “Medea Soft”, “Alik-Arman”. The competition for 26th
frequency of Dilijan was annulled because of absence of bidders.

At the same session of December 27 NCTR made a decision of granting several
vacant frequencies in various regions of the country to the Public Radio of
Armenia for its programs. Another set of vacant frequencies was granted to
the Public Television of Armenia – for broadcasting the programs of the
First Channel and the youth channel “Nor Alik”.

On December 28 the National Commission considered the bids submitted for
other broadcast licensing competitions, announced on September 17. As it has
been reported, the competitions presented the 30th UHF in Artashat , two FMs
in Yerevan (100.6 and 101.1 MHz), as well as two FM-packages in a number of
Armenian cities. The first package includes eight frequencies, the second –
twenty frequencies (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 17-23,
2004).

The only bidder for the 30th frequency in Artashat was “Telelex” TV company.

“MS Explorer” LLC filed applications for the two FMs in the capital. It
should be noted that its founders are “A1+” TV company (deprived of air
since April 2002) and Center “Cooperation for Democracy” NGO. Besides “MS
Explorer”, the 100.6 MHz of Yerevan is claimed by “Avrora” radio, and 101.1
MHz – by “Avtoradio”.

The package of 8 FMs got only one application – from
“ArRadioIntercontinental”. The package of 20 FMs is claimed by “Van” radio
station and Radio “HAY”.

The results of all the competitions will be announced by the National
Commission on February 14, 2005.

JOURNALIST’S POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTED

On December 24, 2004, “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily published a report that on
December 23 the Chief Editor of the newspaper Nikol Pashinian addressed a
letter to the RA General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian. By this address the
Chief Editor petitioned the Prosecutor to institute criminal proceedings on
the illegitimate stoppage of power supply in the flat of “Haikakan Zhamanak”
correspondent Avetis Babajanian, who resides in Armavir. In the opinion of
the newspaper, the reason for the power supply interruption of the
journalist’s flat was his article “Cold and Dark Days of Armavir” (“Haikakan
Zhamanak” of December 18). The publication was critical of the activities of
“Musaler”, the Armavir branch of “Electric Networks of Armenia” CJSC. It
told, in particular, about the periodical power supply interruptions in
dozens of villages of the region that started after the appointment of the
new director of “Musaler”. On December 23 the newspaper noted that the power
supply of Avetis Babajanian’s flat was interrupted on the command of
“Musaler” director.

As Avetis Babajanian informed YPC, the power supply of his flat was resumed
on December 24. The journalist also noted that criminal proceedings on the
incident were instituted basing on the letter of “Haikakan Zhamanak” Editor,
which, as he learned from unofficial sources, were stopped due to absence of
corpus delicti.

PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HUMANITARIAN LAW

The “News” section of YPC web-site () features a presentation
article on the Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law, published by “Medecins
Sans Frontieres” international humanitarian organization.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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