חוק התקשורת (בזק ושידורים) (תיקון מס' 67), התשע"ח-2018Law Communications (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) (Amendment No. 67), 2018 · automatic translation · suggest a correction

Official summary of the law (Knesset)

The law was passed in its second and third readings on 7 February 2018 (hereinafter - the Amendment), and it amends the Communications Law (Telecommunications and Broadcasting), 1982 (hereinafter - the Communications Law). The Amendment deals with the designated Arabic-language channel, which received its license from the Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting in accordance with the Communications Law, like the other designated channels. The Communications Law, in its wording prior to the Amendment, established unique provisions regarding the designated Arabic-language channel, according to which, at the end of two years from the date on which the Arabic-language channel began broadcasting in a satellite broadcast format open to the general public, it would be regarded as having received a television broadcasting license under the Second Authority Law, and accordingly the regulatory powers concerning it would transfer from the Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting to the Second Authority for Television and Radio. In addition, the law granted the Minister of Communications the authority, with the approval of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, to postpone this date, and accordingly the date was postponed by two years to 8 February 2018. Discussions are currently underway on the Second Authority for Television and Radio Bill (Amendment No. 44) (Regulation of Television Broadcasting Licenses), 2018, which includes, among other things, provisions regarding the regulation of designated channels, including the Arabic-language channel, and establishes that all channels that were designated channels will operate as commercial channels in accordance with the Second Authority for Television and Radio Law, 1990, and under the supervision of the Authority's Council. Since the legislative proceedings of the bill regarding the regulation of designated channels are at advanced stages, and in order to ensure that the transfer of all designated channels to the Second Authority for Television and Radio is carried out together, in an orderly manner and while applying uniform regulatory rules, the Amendment repeals the provisions requiring the transfer of regulatory powers regarding the designated Arabic-language channel to the Second Authority for Television and Radio.

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