Those who will apply for a broadcast license to the Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) will have to provide information about the founders of the radio or TV station. Such a proposal was put forward by a group of Liberal-Democrats and is aimed at ensuring transparency as regards ownership in the mass media sector, IPN reports.

According to a communiqué from the PLDM, the legislative initiative describes the procedures for obtaining a broadcast licensee by means of contests. The information presented by the participants in the contest will be published on the BCC’s website within at most three workdays of the submission of the application. The BCC members can ask for additional information about the owner and their legal relations with the affiliated persons. If the applicant does not provide comprehensive information and all the required documents, the Council can reject the application.

The private broadcasters will be obliged to annually present a report by May 1, according to the model approved by the Broadcasting Coordination Council.

BCC chairman Marian Pocaznoi has told IPN that the Council proposed a bill with similar provisions. Under this bill, the applicants for a license will have to provide details about the persons who want to create a radio or TV station or about the existing stations within two months of the adoption of the law.

Marian Pocaznoi said the BCC does not know about the PLDM’s initiative, but is waiting for it to be filed to the Council for examination and for modification, if necessary.