Draft Resolution No. 298 /XIII

It recommends the Government to prepare for the extension of supply of services of

programs on Digital Earth Television

Following a process started in 2001 for the launch in Portugal of the

Digital Terrestrial Television (TDT), the award in 2008, through 2 contests

public, from 6 Multiplexers -frequency-use supports-has not made it evolve the

process for the auspicious enlargement that was ambitiously. Currently, the offer of

digital television programs on the earth platform is practically identical to that

resulted from the analogue platform, situation whose persistence urges inverter, in the face of

criteria for social development and in the framework of the development process

technological available.

In fact, unlike what succeeding in the rest of Europe, Portugal maintains levels of

provision of contents in the absolutely residual TDT, occupying the last place

european, far away from what the technological potential invested would already allow,

wasting a precious tool of strengthening citizenship, democratization

on access to audiovisual content, cultural and informative dissemination and stimulation to the

audiovisual industry.

TDT, as a free access platform, is also essential for the compliance of the

commitment made by the countries of the European Union to promote the

public broadcasting service, commitment enhanced by the Protocol Annex to the

Treaty of Amsterdam, in force since 1999, and which express " the importance that the

governments to assign to the public service of broadcasting, attending to their input

to ensure democracy, meet social and cultural needs and safeguard the

pluralism in the face of the concentration of the media ".

Incidences of the rest, the fulfilment of the public service mission in the context of TDT has been

object of numerous concerns from various European instances, from there are largos years to

this part, with particular highlight to:

• The Resolution of the Council of the European Union and of the Representatives of the

Member States , of January 25, 1999, which subline that " a wide

access from the public, without discrimination and on the basis of equality of

opportunities, to various categories of channels and services constitutes a pre-

necessary condition for the fulfilment of the specific obligations of the

public television service ";

• The Recommendation (2003) No 9 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe ,

in which it is proposed that in the process of transition to digital television

ground to the public service operator use means to enable it

fulfill your mission in digital environment that " may include the

provision of new specialist programme services, for example

in the field of information, education and culture ";

• The Recommendation 1878 (2009) of June 25, 2009 of the Assembly

Parliamentarian of the Council of Europe which points to that " as the

media markets converge and the demands of the public

change, public service broadcasting service operators must diversify

your services through thematic channels, medium services on request,

recorded supports and Internet-based media services,

so as to provide the large audience with a range of services from

full and competitive social communication, in accordance with its mission " and

to " increase the accessibility of your services (...) on all platforms

available in such a way as to reach all audiences, and in particular young people ";

• The Communication from the European Commission (2009) n ° 257/01 second to which " a

broad access from the public without discrimination and on the basis of equality of

opportunities for various categories of programme services and services

constitutes a necessary precondition for the fulfillment of the obligations

specific to the public broadcasting service ".

Just recently, on the political level, this commitment has again been highlighted by the

European Parliament, which, in November 2009, approved by a fiery

a majority (522 votes in favor, 22 against and 62 abstentions) a resolution where one insists

about the need for a public broadcasting service " strong and independent

capable of adapting to the new challenges of the digital age " as well as " about the

need to implement concrete measures to accomplish this goal ".

Aware of the importance of extending the offer of content on the digital platform and

aware that the " public service observes the principles of universality and cohesion

national ", as provided for in the Television Act, the Socialist Party recognizes this

matter as a priority. In this context, the Programme of the XXI Constitutional Government

points with clarity to the need to print a double revamped momentum in this

domain of Digital Terrestrial Television, giving note of its intention to:

• " Asserting the RTP as an instrument of the public media service, valuing

the educational and cultural dimension of this public service and allowing access

integral in signal open to all public service channels through the

digital terrestrial television . Ensure, without putting in question its influence

social a relevant role in cultural policies and audio-visual, well

as in technological innovation and multiplatform offering; "

• " Extending the provision of programme services through Digital Television

Terrestrial , as well as speed up the process of modifying the network of

distribution in such a way as to guarantee elementary conditions of fearsome

of the radio, television and Internet signals. It shall also proceed to the

reassessment of the price imposed on television operators for the cost of

distribution of the televisual signal. "

Consequently, we are in the face of the moment indicated to enter the steps

necessary for the two purposes referred to. It will therefore matter to trigger the process with

seen to the inclusion of more public operator programme services in TDT (having

necessarily in account that the broadening of this offer, even if limited, by the

less in a first phase, should not because of the sustainability of the offer

ensured by the private operators, being relevant to analyse in this framework the

maximum volume of commercial advertising issued by the public operator), and

promoting the elaboration of the necessary financial, technical and legal studies that

allow for a comprehensive analysis of the different possibilities for enlargement

additional of the offer of programme services in TDT.

For this purpose, it matters to take into account the European reality, and to devote special attention to

to the suitability of the spectrum available for TDT, to the option by high transmission

definition (HD), the scheme and procedure for the award of licences and the guarantee of

transmission of the remaining service of public service programs

Thus, under the applicable constitutional and regimental provisions, the

Deputies and the Deputies of the Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party present the

next Resolution Project.

The Assembly of the Republic resolves, in accordance with point (b) of Art. 156 para.

Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, recommend to the Government that:

1-Promoting the elaboration of the necessary financial, technical and legal studies that

allow for a comprehensive analysis of the different possibilities for enlargement

additional of the provision of programme services on the Digital Television Platform

Terrestrial, in the line of European reality, focusing, among others the suitability of the

spectrum available for TDT, the option by high-definition transmission (HD), the

scheme and procedure for the award of licences and the guarantee of transmission of the

services of public service programmes;

2-Without prejudice to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, trigger the technical representations

necessary and prepare the indispensable changes to the normative framework in force for

that the RTP3 and RTP-Memory public service program services are

made available on Terrestrial Digital Television (TDT) in the shortest possible time.

Palace of Saint Benedict, April 28, 2016,

The Deputies,

(Gabriela Canavilhas)

(Star Edite)

(Pedro Delgado Alves)

(John Torres)

(Carla Sousa)

(João Castro)

(António Cardoso)

(John Torres)

(Diogo Lion)