Communications Regulatory Authority

considered the concessionnaire’s methodological assumptions to be reasonable and
consistent with the regulatory obligations, and with regard to the capital pricing the
calculation proved in line with the best accounting practice.
Finally, Resolution no. 186/05/CONS provides for an auditing clause connected
to the first implementation phase of the draft accounting separation. Under this clause,
following the assessment on financial year 2004 and upon discussion with RAI,
AGCOM is entitled to adopt either changes or supplements to the draft approved with
Resolution no. 186/05/CONS. This provision is based on the awareness that, due to the
complexity of the accounting separation system, a cautious approach is considered to be
advisable, according to which the model effectiveness is tested on the 2004 balance
sheet. In the light of this provision AGCOM and the concessionnaire are currently
discussing whether, following the assessment, any changes or supplements should be
adopted with respect to the draft accounting separation to be applied to the 2005 balance
sheet.
Guidelines on the content of additional obligations imposed on the general
radio and television public service
Under article 45, paragraph 4 of the radio and television broadcasting
Consolidation Act, by a joint resolution adopted by the Communications Regulatory
Authority and by the Ministry of Communications, before each three-year renewal of
the service contract guidelines shall be laid down as to the content of additional –
compared to the minimum obligations listed in paragraph 2 of the provision itself –
obligations imposed on the general radio and television public service, based on markets
development, technological advances and changed national and local cultural needs.
The aforementioned provision has an impact on the service contract between the
Ministry and RAI for the 2006-2008 three-year period, to be named “national service
contract” in accordance with the law, and to be supplemented by regional service
contracts, as well as provincial ones for Trento and Bolzano self-governing provinces.
With Resolution no. 55/06/CONS of 1 February 2006 AGCOM set out
additional public service obligations – also on the basis of hints gathered during
hearings held with the major radio and television market players and with consumer
Associations.
In this framework, special attention is be paid to the quality of the radio and
television broadcasting offer, which is a strategic target of the public service mission, to
be pursued within all hour brackets, also in the context of the broadcasting of the most
popular genres of programmes. In particular, besides guaranteeing in all its broadcasts,
also of the non-news type, compliance with the general principles (of objectivity,
completeness, impartiality, pluralism and openness to different political, social, cultural
and religious opinions and trends; of protection of ethnic diversity and of the cultural,
artistic and environmental heritage at a national and local level; of respect of freedoms
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