New Connections - Department of Taoiseach

(2) Legal and Regulatory Environment(2.1) Broadcasting Act 2001CMNR• Award of licence(s) to operate Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) multiplex• Separation and sale of the existing RTÉ transmission network to separate companies• Digital Terrestrial Television platform to be used as a vehicle for the development ofmultimedia services and electronic information services, including those provided bymeans of the internetUpdateFollowing the introduction of the Broadcasting Act 2001, invitations were issued toapply for licences to operate a Digital Terrestrial Television DTT multiplex. Oneapplication was received from IT'S TV. This application was withdrawn in October2002.RTÉ have proceeded with the separation of the transmission network but not with itssale. The organisation has proposed to set up a subsidiary (wholly owned by RTE) tomanage the transmission network. This proposal is currently being considered by theMinister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. D/CMNR willcommence a review on the future of DTT in 2003. No date is yet available for theconclusion of this review.(2.2) Data ProtectionJELR• Enact the Data Protection (Amendment) Bill transposing the outstanding provisions ofthe Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC)UpdateThe Data Protection (Amendment) Bill 2002, which gives effect to outstandingprovisions of the Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC), is at Committee Stage in theDáil. Part of the Directive has already been transposed by the European Communities(Data Protection) Regulations 2001, in particular concerning transfer of personal dataoutside the European Economic Area.(2.3) Electronic CommerceETE• Transposition of the outstanding provisions of the Electronic Commerce Directive(2000/31/EC) to be completed during 20029