In connection with the information circulated by “DVB-T” AD, concerning the carrying out of the contest for seventh national network for terrestrial digital television, the Communications Regulation Commission (CRС) deems it necessary to inform the public about the following:

 

The state policy regarding the process of introduction of terrestrial digital television broadcasting is formulated by the legislative and executive power. The conditions for carrying out the competition procedures for networks for terrestrial digital television stem from the Law on Electronic Communications (LEC), adopted by the National Assembly. At the same time the Council of Ministers adopts the Plan for introduction of terrestrial digital television broadcasting (DVB-T) in the Republic of Bulgaria, where the stages, terms and conditions for the digitalization are described. We should stress that the government undertook all the necessary measures to avoid an infringement procedure against Bulgaria, and the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) have been reflected in the amendments of the LEC at the end of 2011 and the newly adopted Plan by the Council of Ministers in July 2012.

 

The necessity to hold a contest, the terms and conditions are stipulated in the two normative acts.

 

The Communications Regulation Commission is only executing the Law and the Plan for introduction of terrestrial digital television broadcasting. In this regard, executing its powers, CRC announced with Decision No 68 of 21.01.2013 a competition procedure for granting authorization for one more national network for terrestrial digital television. The decision is published on the internet site of the regulator, as well as promulgated in the State Gazette of 29.01.2013, because of impossibility for the issue of  25.01.2013.

 

The information disseminated by “DVB-T” АD shows either obvious incompetence of the company regarding the legislative and normative regulation or a desire to deliberately discredit CRC. Despite the attempts on the part of the company to compromise the process, the Communications Regulation Commission declares, that when conducting the forthcoming new competition it shall apply strictly and responsibly the law, in compliance with its prescribed powers.

 

Concerning the statements of the company, that it is „technologically impossible” to construct a new network by 01.09.2013, we should stress again, that the stages and the terms are not identified by CRC but stem from the Plan 2012. It is also written there, that the release of the spectrum occupied by the Ministry of Defense is directly related to the securing of financial resource within the budget for the respective year and is beyond the competence of CRC.

 

The untrue and corrupted facts disseminated once more by “DVB-T” АD do not aim provision of quality information to the audience but only the imposition of corporate interests. The information presented by the company is extremely incompetent and incorrect. It distorts the facts and undermines the confidence of the public in the institution and its work. The Communications Regulation Commission backs up the truth, the transparency and maximum information in order to protect to a maximum extent the public interest.