Issues of state regulation of television and radio broadcasting in border areas

Abstract

Introduction. This publication analyzes the urgent problem of state regulation and functioning of broadcasting in the border areas of Ukraine bordering the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic (TMR), the russian federation and the Republic of Belarus. This study focuses on the role of state regulation of information security in these areas, and possible ways to improve the situation by improving the receiving of terrestrial broadcasting. The aim of the study. The purpose of this article is to find and substantiate proposals for improving the state regulation of television and radio broadcasting in the border regions of Ukraine. Methods. The research is based on the analysis of scientific works by Ukrainian scholars on the problems of broadcasting in border areas and on a comparative analysis of regulations and laws and highlights important aspects of the impact of geopolitical factors on the media environment in these border areas. The article describes the results of field research in the border areas of Odesa region, but the study of regulatory documents and reports revealed that the situation with broadcasting in the border areas is a national problem, not a problem of a particular region. It is established that the problem of broadcasting in the border areas is not only that in some settlements there is uncertain reception or no reception of Ukrainian television and radio, but also that in these settlements there is a stable reception of the multichannel network of Russian television and radio stations. Results. In addition to the need for technical solutions to provide border areas with coverage of Ukrainian television and radio broadcasting, the author emphasizes that in order to protect the national information space, it is additionally necessary to create conditions under which domestic national content will be more attractive to viewers than Russian content, both in terms of the number of channels and the quality of content. The author substantiates the directions of improvement of the State regulation in the field of television and radio broadcasting in the border areas of Ukraine in the field of development of cellular television systems, which maximizes the benefits of cellular technologies; in terms of obtaining permits for the use of frequencies to cover the territory (rather than installation points) of cellular television systems; and in terms of creating a favorable environment for local businesses to enter the field of cellular television systems. Perspectives. Further research can be conducted in the direction of substantiation, development and improvement of legislative norms that regulate the coverage of the territory of Ukraine by television and radio broadcasting. At the same time, it is expedient to carry out research on mechanisms that make it possible to introduce alternative broadcasting technologies and alternative ways of regulating the process of issuing broadcast permits.