OMBUDSMAN’S REPORT TO CRITICIZE DIGITIZATION PROCESS

April 7 2015

The public grievances regarding the radio and television digitization
process have not yet begun to fade. People are concerned about whether
a few months later when we switch-over to digital broadcasting they
will not be able to watch most of the TV channels on their old model
TV sets, hence they have to spend additional funds for acquisition
of decoding devices. This issue is also covered in the RA Ombudsman’s
annual report. The document reads on this issue, “Insufficient public
awareness on radio and television digitization process, as well as lack
of sufficient guarantees for socially vulnerable people jeopardizes
the rights thereof to freedom of information.” Aravot.am inquired
from the Chairman of Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, Ashot
Melikyan, about what revisions are conducted by the public officials
pertaining to solving the problem, especially since these issues were
addressed in the Ombudsman’s report, which means that there are risks
in this area related to human rights violations, Mr. Melikyan replied,
“A political decision has been made that no provincial TV stations will
be shut down. The government is preparing a bill, according to which
the transition deadline of shutting down the analogue broadcasting is
postponed by six months. It will be extended to another half a year,
until January 1, 2016â~@³. Note that the main reason for protraction is
caused by yet unresolved social problems so that they will be able to
manage the process of delivering free decoding devices, as well as to
ensure the access of multiplexes to the market. Ashot Melikyan is sure
that the solution to given problems of is up to the RA international
obligation, and, this way or another, all these issues need to be
resolved. “It’s another matter that as per the obligations, they do
not accomplish it on time, but relevant entities are working on the
lists of vulnerable people to give a start to the process.” Note
that in compliance with the government decision, a tender should
be announced to import decoders to the country by the number of
vulnerable people. Ashot Melikyan noted that necessary legislative
amendments are required. “In compliance with the law on Television
and Radio, it is not possible to solve these technical issues, for
instances, the access of multiplexers to the market is not regulated
by this law. Therefore, the government officials assure that our
submitted bill underlies their elaborated bill, which will regulate
these issues.” Note that the bill was submitted by the Committee to
Protect Freedom of Expression, the Yerevan Press Club and the Center
for Media Initiatives. It is now in the National Assembly and based
on this, the Government of Armenia is elaborating a new bill. To our
question of how to avoid the violations of people’s right to receive
information, Ashot Melikyan replied, “Digitization should not cause
any family remain devoid of receiving digital signals and the right
to receive information on TV. It is also up to the RA international
obligation and they are just obligated to provide it. This approach is
also provided for in the digitization concept paper adopted in 2009.”

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

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