No say for KVF
The Federal Council wants to remain solely responsible for granting the SRG license.
It rejects a motion of the National Council's Commission for Transport and Telecommunications (KVF), which wants to give Parliament more say. The KVF wants a new framework concession in which the principles of the concession would be defined. This would have to be approved by the federal councils. Based on this, the Federal Council could issue a detailed operating license to the SRG.
However, the Federal Council would like to remain solely responsible for the licensing of the SRG. In its statement on the motion of the KVF published on Thursday, it recalls that parliament already provides the framework for the license in the Radio and Television Act. It can amend the law at any time, for example to redefine the programming mandate or the SRG's journalistic offering, the Federal Council writes.
He also points out that the regulation proposed by the KVF could lead to a situation without a license if no agreement is reached in parliament. In addition, the current distribution of roles is in line with the Federal Constitution, which guarantees the independence and programming freedom of radio and television.
With its motion, the Commission had taken up the demand that the SRG's basic service mandate be democratically legitimized. Questions about the role and mission of the electronic media are currently on the political agenda anyway in connection with the Service Public report presented by the Federal Council. The report is currently with the KVF. It has requested additional clarifications from the administration.
Two other KVF requests answered by the Federal Council are also related to the ongoing media discussion. The government is prepared to consider the creation of an independent supervisory authority for radio and television. However, the Federal Council does not want to do this until it has worked on a law on electronic media, which it promised in the Service Public report.
It also agrees with a motion demanding that SRG continue to be banned from online advertising in the future. The Federal Council writes that it wants to maintain the online advertising ban. However, it will keep an eye on the development of advertising revenues and the overall revenues of the SRG. (SDA)
Image: Parliamentary Services 3003 Bern
