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ANCOM launches consultation on the licence fees for terrestrial digital audio broadcasting multiplexes

05.09.2018

ANCOM has published for public consultation the Draft Government Decision on awarding licences for the use of radio frequencies in terrestrial digital audio broadcasting system (in Romanian), which lays down the manner of carrying out the selection procedure, the conditions for awarding licences for the use of radio frequencies, and the minimum licence fees for the T-DAB+ terrestrial digital audio broadcasting multiplexes to be auctioned out.

Minimum licence fees

The minimum licence fee for a national multiplex, which is the starting price for each multiplex in the auction, amounts to EUR 75,000. The minimum licence fee for a regional multiplex ranges, depending on the allotment area, from EUR 1,050 to EUR 5,500 – for a Bucharest multiplex. Licence fees for regional multiplexes are specified in the Annex to the Draft Government Decision, available in Romanian here.

The licence fee resulting from the selection procedure is to be paid to the state budget within 90 calendar days from the date of announcing the auction outcome.

Digital audio broadcasting multiplexes

On 23 August 2018, ANCOM launched a public consultation on the Draft Decision for organising the auction and the Terms of Reference for awarding one national T-DAB+ terrestrial digital audio broadcasting multiplex in the 223-230 MHz band (TV channel 12) and of one national T-DAB+ terrestrial digital audio broadcasting multiplex or 36 regional multiplexes in the 216-223 MHz band (TV channel 11). Regional multiplexes may be awarded only where no valid bids have been submitted for the national multiplex in the 216-223 MHz band in the selection procedure.

These multiplexes will be awarded through a competitive selection procedure, for 10 years.

Auction procedure

The competitive selection procedure requires each bidder to submit an initial bid indicating the multiplexes it wishes to acquire. If the demand exceeds the number of available multiplexes, primary bidding rounds will be organized until the demand no longer exceeds the offer.

The applicants’ qualification requirements proposed by ANCOM are available, in Romanian, in the Terms of Reference.

Auction procedure schedule

The auction will be launched by publishing an announcement once the documentation has been finalized. The entities interested in participating in the procedure will have four weeks from the date of the announcement for submitting an application file. ANCOM will announce the qualifying applicants within two days from the submission date, then the actual auction stages will follow. The Authority is to announce the auction results within three days from its completion and the winners are to pay the license fee within 90 calendar days from the announcement of the results.

Coverage obligations

The winners of the national multiplexes will have to put into operation at least 10 transmitters and to launch service upon the installation and authorization of at least two transmitters in Bucharest, for each multiplex, within 2 years from the date of obtaining the licences. Winners of regional multiplexes will have the obligation to put into operation at least one transmitter in each allotment within 18 months from the date of obtaining the licences.

Public consultation

The Draft Government Decision on awarding licences for the use of radio frequencies in terrestrial digital audio broadcasting system is available, in Romanian, here. The interested persons are invited to submit their comments and suggestions, by 05 October 2018, at the ANCOM headquarters (2 Delea Noua Street, Bucharest 3), directly to the ANCOM Registry Office or by means of ANCOM’s regional divisions. Comments may also be sent by fax to +40 372 845 402 or by e-mail to consultare@ancom.org.ro.Â