Communications Regulatory Authority

opinions, to be gathered by questionnaires or by telephone interviews relating to
programmes aired to a representative population sample. The assessment system shall
also be checked by an external panel of experts.
As to special traffic services, regulations governing the Isoradio service were
confirmed, so that this traffic update radio is allowed solely to repeat national networks’
programmes interspersed with traffic news bulletins, instead of airing its own
broadcasts,.
As far as technological advances are concerned, compliance is required with the
obligations imposed on the public concessionaire by Resolution no. 136/05/CONS with
respect to digital terrestrial television, as regards the setting up of infrastructures, the
roll-out of a new generalist TV programme, and the allocation - to independent content
providers - of at least 40% of the broadcasting capacity of broadcasting blocks relating
to digital terrestrial television programmes not intended for the public service.
Provisions also govern the reception of RAI’s simulcast uncoded satellite broadcasts,
for the purpose of boosting the development of digital radio broadcasting, testing new
broadcasting techniques such as DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld) and
High Definition, and regulating the use of broadcasting blocks in connection with the
digital terrestrial technique.
With regard to the development of markets and competition, in compliance with
European rules on the use of licence fees RAI is required both to use such fees solely to
perform its public service tasks, without upsetting exchange and competition conditions
in the European Union, and to give precise evidence of such use by drawing up its
financial year balance according to separate accounting, pursuant to AGCOM’s policy
resolutions.
RAI shall also adopt such technical and economical management criteria as will
allow the concessionnaire to achieve production and allocation effectiveness goals, also
through a rationalisation of its organisation.
Lastly, special provisions regulate AGCOM’s action aimed at checking (article
48 of the radio and television Consolidation Act) that public service tasks are
accomplished pursuant to European policies on the implementation of rules on State
subsidies, according to which the public service mission shall be entrusted in a clear and
detailed fashion by law rules or regulations and the verification shall be carried out by
an independent Authority.
To that end RAI is required to submit, on a six-month basis, a report containing
detailed information on programmes aired and tasks accomplished in compliance with
public service obligations.
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