The bill also says citizens who do not pay the annual license fee will be imprisoned from one to five years or will be fined from 1000 to 5000 Birr. According to the parliamentarians, the state broadcaster must provide interesting programs and up-to-date information that the public would choose to follow, before it starts to ask for a license fee. The MP said, “it is not operating free of political influence and gives no equal access to all political parties. MPs also oppose the fact that the license fee penalty is linked to renewal of business licenses, while others raise questions over why a citizen should be forced to pay money for a TV station that they don’t watch its programs. Despite objections from the member of parliaments the bill has been approved into law being proclamation No.

Source: Ethiopian News November 25, 2022 21:38 UTC