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D o m i n i c a n R e p u b l i c 3. BROADCAST LAWS AND THE CONTENT
OF INFORMATION The Telecommunications Law of 1966, the Law 1951 of 1949, Regulation
824 of 1949 and other complementary rules establish certain guidelines
regarding radio and television broadcasts. Included in these rules is a ban on performances or radio broadcasts
that offend public morals, good customs or relations with other
countries (Art. 2 of the Law 1951). Another ruling forbids the showing
to children under age 14 of films that have scenes, situations,
texts or dialogues of an erotic nature; that have scenes, situations,
texts or dialogues capable of perverting their moral sense; and
in general, that through detail or plot expose the children to pernicious
examples that are premature experiences for their age (Art. 5). Regulation 824 requires permission to be obtained from the
National Commission of Public Spectacles to present commercial,
cultural or political programs (Art. 66). When a station broadcasts false or misleading news not obtained
from reliable sources, the owner of that station is responsible
to the persons or companies that may be damaged by the news (Art.
88). International newscasts produced by universally recognized
news agencies are not subject to approval by the National Commission
of Public Spectacles and Broadcasts (Law 1951, Art. 43). No prior authorization or control is required for newscasts,
general news or programs issued by an official entity of the Dominican
state and sent directly to the management of a radio station, or
programs produced by official entities generally, or programs produced
or transmitted by established and recognized Dominican or foreign
press agencies (Law 1951, Art. 43). The Telecommunications Law of 1966, Art. 16, forbids the interception,
dissemination and utilization, by any means and without authorization,
of news reports transmitted by electric telecommunications for public
consumption; radio stations may transmit only in accordance with
the license they have been issued. The authorities, however, may
intercept and use all types of communications when deemed necessary
to ensure proper enforcement of the laws and regulations of existing
international conventions. The same rule in Art. 47 establishes that broadcasts of an
advertising, political, labor union or religious nature shall not
predominate, according to the objectives of these services. Advertising
may be broadcast provided that its amount, nature and form does
not affect the quality and importance of the programming. The rule
also bars political parties, labor unions or advertising agencies
from controlling broadcasts directly or indirectly.
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