Fifth Quarterly Report
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FIFTH QUARTERLY REPORT ON AVMS AND AEC PERFORMANCE OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2017 FIFTH QUARTERLY REPORT ON AVMS AND AEC PERFORMANCE OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2017 FIFTH QUARTERLY REPORT ON AVMS AND AEC PERFORMANCE Publisher: Eurothink – Centre for European Strategies NGO Info-Centre Transparency Macedonia Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia Translation and proofreading: Abakus Graphic design: Brigada Design This product is prepared within the programme “Moni- toring the performance, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of the media regulatory bodies – PRO- formance Watch” funded by the UK Government with the support of the British Embassy Skopje. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or the opinions of the British Embassy/UK Government. 2 FIFTH QUARTERLY REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS ON AVMS AND AEC PERFORMANCE 1. INTRODUCTION 5 2. AGENCY FOR AUDIO AND AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA 6 SERVICES (AVMS) 2.1 TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY 6 2.1.1 SESSIONS OF AVMS COUNCIL 6 2.1.2 PUBLIC MEETING 7 2.1.3 WEBSITES, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE CHANNEL 7 2.2 INDEPENDENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS 8 2.2.1 PROPOSED LAW AMENDMENTS 9 2.3 PERFORMANCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 9 2.3.1 2018 ANNUAL OPERATION PROGRAM AND 9 FINANCIAL PLAN 2.3.2 MONITORING OF MEDIA ELECTION COVERAGE 11 2.3.3 SUPERVISIONS AND MEASURES 12 2.3.4 STUDIES, ANALYSES, RESEARCH 12 2.3.5 PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS AND DEBATES 13 2.4 2.4 PUBLIC INTEREST 13 2.4.1 STRATEGY on BROADCASTING ACTIVITY 13 DEVELOPMENT 2.4.2 MEDIA LITERACY 14 2.4.3 HATE SPEECH, OFFENSIVE SPEECH AND 15 DISCRIMINATION 2.4.4 CITIZENS’ COMPLAINTS 15 3. AGENCY FOR ELECTRONIC 15 COMMUNICATIONS (AEC) 3.1 TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY 15 3.1.1 WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA 16 3.1.2 MEETINGS OF AEC COMMISSION 17 3.1.3 PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS 17 3.1.4 PUBLIC MEETINGS 18 3.1.5 PRESS RELEASES AND EVENTS 18 3.1.6 COOPERATION WITH AEC 19 3.2 INDEPENDENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS 19 3.2.1 QUARTERLY REPORTS ON ELECTRONIC 19 COMMUNICATIONS MARKET DEVELOPMENT 3 3.2.2 PUBLIC SURVEYS ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS MARKET IN THE REPUBLIC OF 20 MACEDONIA 3.2.2.1 AWARENESS ABOUT AEC’S WORK (AMONG 20 RESIDENTIAL USERS) 3.2.2.2 AWARENESS ABOUT AEC’S OPERATION (among 20 business USERS) 3.2.3 AEC’S 2016 ANNUAL OPERATION REPORT 21 3.2.4 FERRIS WHEEL DONATIONS 21 3.2.5 DECISIONS ON SUSPENSION OF APPROVALS ON 21 USE OF RADIOFREQUENCIES 3.2.6 PERFORMANCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 21 3.3 INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AND TRAINING FOR 22 AEC STAFF MEMBERS 3.3.1 ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT PLAN 22 3.3.2 ABOLISHMENT OF ROAMING CHARGES BETWEEN MACEDONIA, SERBIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, 22 AND MONTENEGRO 3.3.3 PUBLIC PROCUREMENTS 23 3.3.4 2018 ANNUAL OPERATION PROGRAM AND 23 FINANCIAL PLAN 3.3.5 PUBLIC INTEREST 23 3.4 CARE FOR END-USERS 27 3.4.1 COMPLAINTS BY END-USERS 27 3.4.2 CALLS AND MESSAGES TO TOLL 27 FREE NUMBER 190 3.4.3 AEC’S PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC DEBATES 28 4 FIFTH QUARTERLY REPORT ON AVMS AND AEC 1. INTRODUCTION PERFORMANCE The project “Monitoring Efficiency, Effectiveness, Transparency and Accountability of Media Regulatory Authorities – PROformance Watch” is implemented by Eurothink - Centre for European Strategies in cooperation with NGO Info-Centre, Transparency Macedonia and Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia. This monitoring programme is implemented in the period September 2016 - March 2018, with the support from the British Embassy in the Republic of Macedonia. More specifically, the project team monitors efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability and protection of public interest demonstrated by two regulatory authorities, those being: the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) and the Agency for Electronic Communications (AEC). This, fifth quarterly report covers performance track records of AVMS and AEC in the period October-December 2017 and is developed pursuant to “AVMS and AEC Performance Monitoring Matrix”,1 designed in consultations with the two regulatory bodies and published in January 2017. The methodology developed for this monitoring programme accommodates specificities of both regulatory authorities and monitors their operation in terms of transparency and accountability, efficiency and independence, performance and protection of public interest. 1 AVMS and AEC Performance Monitoring Matrix, available at: http:// eurothink.mk/ documents/ sHGS5RQrpszZA2TfG 5 2. AGENCY FOR AUDIO AND AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA SERVICES (AVMS) 2.1 TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY In the last quarter of 2017, the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Servic- es demonstrated solid level of transparency and accountability in its operation, mainly observed in terms of publicity of AVMS Council’s sessions and decisions, regular updating of website contents and launch of AVMS’s official Facebook page and separate website designated to media literacy. Based on the 2018 Annual Operation Program and minutes from AVMS Coun- cil’s session at which this program was adopted, there is visible improvement in terms of transparency and visibility of this regulatory, while Council Members, AVMS Director and other staff members are prepared to discuss and accept certain proposals and suggestions put forward by different organizations and institutions, including organizations implementing this monitoring project. 2.1.1 Sessions of avms council In the fourth quarter of 2017, AVMS Council held a total of 10 sessions, livestreamed on the Agency’s YouTube channel, while session agendas and minutes were regularly and timely published on AVMS’s official website. Chart no. 1: Number of AVMS Council sessions in 2017 (per quarter) 6 th FIFTH QUARTERLY REPORT On 26 December, AVMS Council adopted the 2018 Annual Operation ON AVMS AND AEC PERFORMANCE Program and the 2018 Financial Plan, including annual plans on administrative 2 and programme oversight.2 In that, adoption of AVMS’s annual program and Minutes from 42nd session held by AVMS financial plan was preceded by public conclusions in duration of 30 days, which Council, available at: http:// were marked by contribution made only by Macedonian Telecom. Only portion avmu.mk/wp-content/ uploads/2018/01/Zapisnik- of requests made by this company was accepted. od-42-sednica.pdf 3 In this quarter, AVMS Council adopted the decision on approving change AVMS Decision, available 3 at: http://avmu.mk/wp- to ownership structure at TV Alsat-M, and the decision on rejecting change content/uploads/2017/11/ to ownership structure at TV 24News because, according to AVMS, that could Odluka-za-promena-na- lead to illegal media concentration.4 sopstvenicka-struktura- ALSAT-M.pdf Furthermore, Council Members discussed the motion submitted by 4 Decision taken by AVMS, available at:http:// Radio Kanal 77 to revoke the broadcasting license of TV 24 Vesti on the avmu.mk/wp-content/ grounds that owner of this television outlet is registered as company owner uploads/2017/12/Odluka- in Central Register of the Republic of Austria, i.e. owner of public electronic so-koja-se-zabaranuva- promena-na-sopstvenicka- communications network operator in Austria. AVMS Council unanimously struktura-na-24-VESTI.pdf voted to reject this motion with the explanation that, in order to establish illegal 5 Minutes from 40th media concentration, the operator in question needs to transmit programme session held by AVMS services on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, which is not the case Council, available at: http:// avmu.mk/wp-content/ 5 at this moment. uploads/2017/12/Записник- од-40та-седница.pdf AVMS Council approved the motion to initiate bankruptcy procedure for 6 Minutes from 35th debtor TV ERA SAT,6 and adopted information on fulfilment of minimum staff session held by AVMS requirements at TV ORBIS.7 Council, available at:http:// avmu.mk/wp-content/ Having in mind the importance of non-for-profit media, AVMS Council uploads/2017/11/Zapisnik- od-35-ta-sednica.pdf discussed the inability for programme broadcasting by university radio Student 7 Minutes from AVMS FM 92.9 without previous approval from the Ministry of Education and Science Council 35th session, for engagement of students under contracts and unanimously concluded available at: http:// avmu.mk/wp-content/ that the Agency should address in written the Ministry and the Government uploads/2017/11/Zapisnik- about this matter. Moreover, AVMS Council requested the university radio to od-35-ta-sednica.pdf regularly communicate with the Agency about this matter and its resolution.8 8 Minutes from 39th session held by AVMS Other important decisions taken by AVMS Council include decisions Council, available at: http:// avmu.mk/wp-content/ on termination of television programme broadcasting by 4 broadcasters9 uploads/2017/12/Zapisnik- (based on statements submitted by relevant holders of broadcasting licenses od-39-ta-sednica.pdf that they are terminating their respective programme broadcast), as well as 9 Minutes from 41st session decisions on rejecting two applications to grant radio broadcasting licenses held by AVMS Council, 10 11 available at:http:// on the territories of Skopje and Strumica, because - according to the avmu.mk/wp-content/ Plan on Radiofrequency Award and Use -it was established there are no uploads/2017/12/ radiofrequencies available in these areas. Записник-од-41-та- седница.pdf 10 Decision taken by AVMS, available at: http:// avmu.mk/wp-content/ uploads/2017/12/Zdruzenie- Radio-Marija-Makedonija- Odluka-za-grad- Skopje-26.12.17-08-486.pdf 11 Decision taken by AVMS, available at: http://avmu.mk/ wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ Zdruzenie-Radio-Marija- Makedonija-Odluka-za- Strumica-26.12.17-08-485. pdf 7 2.1.2 PUBLIC MEETING On 22nd December, AVMS held the fourth public meeting in 2017, livestreamed on its YouTube channel. Main focus of this public meeting was put on results and recommendations enlisted in “Analysis of Reporting Frameworks in Media Coverage of Topics Related to LGBT Community” drafted by the Coalition Sexual and Health Rights of Marginalized Communities, and AVMS’s activities on encouraging media literacy.