Pursuing the objectives of ensuring freedom of information and guaranteeing that people everywhere in Russia will have access to socially important information, the Executive Order sets out a list of television channels and radio stations that must be broadcast nationwide and free of charge.
The order states that these channels and stations will be broadcast in mandatory fashion throughout the entire country, and at no cost to consumers. Broadcasting will be the responsibility of state-owned enterprise Russian Television and Radio Network.
The order also provides for the founding of a national television channel for children and youth by January 1, 2011.
The list of mandatory free national channels includes Kultura (the culture channel), Sport, Vesti (news channel) and Rossia channel, all part of the National State Television and Radio Company (VGTRK), as well as the channel for children and youth , Channel One, Petersburg — Channel 5, and NTV. The list of radio stations includes Vesti FM, Radio Mayak and Radio Russia, all part of VGTRK.