Proper use of digital services, development of remote learning and telemedicine, enabling digital financial services and e-commerce, enhancing tourism and entrepreneurship – these are only some of the opportunities created by the development of digital economy for the benefit of the Georgian population. The digital service component of the World Bank’s universal internet access project will be implemented by the Communications Commission. The project will provide 1000 villages and ...

To protect children and youth from harmful effects online, the Communications Commission has given parents an effective mechanism for reducing online threats. From now on, parents can ask internet providers to restrict access to websites that are dangerous for children. According to the rules determined by COMCOM, websites hosting films, television shows and games must label programmes that are unsuitable for viewing by children and youth under the ages of 18, 15, 12 and 7. COMCOM will compile ...

The Communications Commission fined Media Union Obiektivi 5000GEL for broadcasting programmes in Russian language, and instructed it to immediately remove the programmes in question from the broadcasting schedule. The case concerns the political show Kvelas Gasagonad (‘For Everyone to Hear’), which was shown on Obiektivi in Russian language. The programme in question exceeded the length set by COMCOM, as well as it was broadcasted in foreign language without subtitles. According to ...

The Communications Commission did not uphold the complaint of the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s against Formula TV. The complaint concerned the programme Pskeri, where the logos and visual packaging of GPB and its daily show New Day were used unchanged. Explaining its decision, COMCOM pointed out that Formula TV included GPB’s visual components in its own original material as parody and used the aforementioned logos as caricatures. It is evident that Formula TV aimed to create ...

Affordable rates, broad choice, high-quality service and competitive environment – these are the benefits that consumers in Georgia will be able to enjoy from 2021 as a result of the Communications Commission’s decision to allow virtual operators on the mobile telecommunications market. This is a novel opportunity for the public to gain access to innovative products, comfortable services and new offers. A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a mobile service provider that does ...

The Communications Commission is holding a two-day training programme for local NGO representatives in regions with a high concentration of ethnic minorities, titled ‘The Effect of Misinformation on Civic Integration and the Importance of its Prevention.’ Media literacy as a tool to fight misinformation, its essence and principles, its role in countering stereotypes and fighting misinformation in the age of modern technology – these are some of the topics covered by COMCOM ...

Despite the increase in television advertising revenues during the first quarter of 2020, it was clear that the COVID-19 pandemic would affect the advertising market. Total advertising revenues for television companies during the second quarter of 2020 amounted to 12.2 million GEL. Television advertising revenues include commercials, sponsorships, product placements, announcements and teleshopping. Television advertising revenues during the second quarter of 2020 for each broadcaster were as ...

The Communications Commission notes that the public objections made by the Media Advocacy Coalition (MAC) regarding the changes to the “Ordinance on Media Participation in the Election Process and the Approval of its Use” are dishonest and baseless, serving to ensure that reports by international organisations contain false information. Indeed, a representative from the MAC could not substantiate his own remarks at yesterday’s meeting of the Commission. COMCOM presented draft ...

Caucasus Online has once again been fined  270,000 GEL for selling shares without the approval of the Communications Commission. The company has been ignoring its obligations under law and COMCOM’s decisions for the past 10 months. Caucasus Online has to revert its shareholding to the pre-sale status quo until 20 September. Failure to do so will result in COMCOM considering other lawful mechanisms to enforce its ruling.   This is the third time that Caucasus Online has been ...

The Communications Commission will start the media monitoring process for the 2020 parliamentary elections on 1 September, publishing quantitative and qualitative results for around 50 broadcasting channels. COMCOM monitors received four-day training from the media expert of the Council of Europe, CEO of Memo 98 Rasto Kuzel, who shared best international practice and explained the peculiarities and specifics of qualitative pre-election media monitoring to the participants. COMCOM employees ...