Gia Jokhtaberidze, the founder of MagtiCom, criticized the rules of financing the Media Academy set up by the Communications Commission at the parliament. According to him, increase of numbering fee by 15 tetri was a blow for telecommunication companies. The Communication Commission funds the activities of the Media Academy with the increased tariff.
"It was mentioned that the Regulatory Commission does not interfere in the activities of the Media Academy, this is not true. The Regulatory Commission decided in 2018, that 10 tetri from the numbering resource should be redistributed to the Commission and the Commission would direct the funds to Media Academy. In 2018, 10 tetri became 25 tetri without an agreement with the parliament. The Communication Commission wanted to receive 15 tetri. They whipped our business and gave it to the Media Academy.
When do you say they do not interfere in the activities, how they do not interfere? They gain finances and appoint the employees there, isn't that an interference? ” said Gia Jokhtaberidze.
In 2019, the revenues of the Communications Commission were two million GEL up comparing to the previous year, which was due to the increase in revenues received from radiofrequency and numbering resources. Until December 2018, the fee was 0.10 GEL, and then this tax was set at 0.25 GEL.
In March 2018, the rules for payment of these funds were also changed. In particular, before this change, the permit seeker had to pay the fee to the state budget, and after the March 2018 change, the permit fee was transferred to the account of the National Communications Commission.
