Media Authority: powers

Hungary’s Media Authority has a range of powers over all aspects of media regulation. Critics have challenged in particular the Media Council’s role in tendering and awarding broadcasting licenses, including its powers to award licenses without a tender, as well as the Media Authority president’s power to issue ministerial-level decrees regarding licensing and spectrum fees (Section 5.1). Opponents have also raised concerns over the new Commissioner for Media and Communications, an appointee of the Media Authority responsible for handling complaints from the public, and monitoring the media field for content deemed “harmful” but not in violation of any regulations specified in the law. Critics say the Media Commissioner’s powers extend the Media Authority’s regulatory scope and sanctioning powers to areas not defined in the media laws, which could have a “chilling effect” on the press (Section 5.2)