Guidelines on the use of Minority Languages in the Broadcast Media A. FREQUENCIES • When awarding licenses, States should consider providing frequencies for minority language broadcasting in whole or in part. • States should consider providing “open channels” – i.e. program transmission facilities, which use the same frequency, shared by a number of linguistic groups within the service area – where there are technical limitations on the number of frequencies available and/or groups that do not have sufficient resources to sustain their own services. B. BROADCASTERS • States should prescribe appropriate requirements for State or public service broadcasters with regard to the provision of programming in minority languages. • States should also consider creating favourable conditions (financial or otherwise) to encourage private minority language broadcasting. This may be achieved through the allocation of licenses, including calls for tender or in response to a proposal from an applicant. States may also choose to exempt minority language broadcasters from competition legislation or create special regimes to relieve them of certain administrative burdens. • Where there is no private minority language broadcasting, States should actively assist its establishment, as necessary. C. PROGRAMMING States should ensure that the amount of time allocated and the scheduling of minority language broadcasting should reflect the numerical size and concentration of the national minority and be appropriate to their needs and interests. Consideration must also be given to the minimum amount of time and appropriate scheduling needed for small minorities to have meaningful access to broadcast media in their language. These aims may be achieved through licensing, including through stipulation of lengths and periods of minority language broadcasting. 11