Companies, authorized persons on transit held protest demonstration at the premises of the Georgian National Communications Commission. As the operators state the GNCC is incapable to implement its duties, it is interested party and supports concrete business entities. The operators from Tbilisi and the regions, as well as their subscribers, participated in the demonstration. They think the Georgian national televisions humiliate their rights and interests. To remind you, the six Georgian TV-Channels (Rustavi 2, Imedi, Maestro, GDS, Marao and Comedy Channel), on behalf of the Ltd Media Rights Georgia, claim payment for the transit of their signal. December 1 was deadline for signing the agreement.

The operators request the Commission to go back to the implementation of its function and fulfill the recommendation of the Economics Committee of the Parliament of Georgia and regulate the dispute between the broadcasters and the operators in accordance to the law so that the equality of both parties and consumers' rights were respected. According to their statement, the Commission shall not support establishment of monopoly in the market and take all measures to prevent all cartel agreements and illegal activities of the televisions.

In parallel to the demonstration, the operators and the commission members met each other. The problems of the operators were discussed during the meeting. About key issues the representatives of the operators and GNCC members had different opinions. Mostly the GNCC members shared the position of the broadcasters though detected the cartel signs in their agreement.

The Georgian Cable Televisions Union believes the law shall be improved as it contains significant miscarriages. The Union has already petitioned to the Parliament of Georgia with the request to amend the law but the sector economic committee of the Parliament decided that the submitted legislative proposal cannot resolve the raised issue and recommended the GNCC to regulate the problems with respect of two significant principles - defense of consumers' rights and regulation of competition. If it cannot be achieved because of present legislation, the Commission shall submit its legislative proposals on concrete legislative amendments in nearest future.

The time will show what the Commission will decide and what role it will play in the regulation of current critical situation.