The Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (the RTCL) is an independent body accountable to the Seimas (Parliament), which regulates and supervises activities of broadcasters of radio and television programmes and providers of on-demand audiovisual media services falling under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Lithuania, activities of video-sharing platform providers as well as supervises activities of re-broadcasters operating in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania and other persons providing to users of the Republic of Lithuania with the service of the dissemination of television programmes or individual programmes via the Internet. The RTCL participates in the formation of national audiovisual policy. It acts as an expert body for the Seimas and the Government on the above matters. When performing its functions and taking decisions on issues within its remit, the RTCL acts independently. As of 1 April 2019, it enforces copyright protection on the Internet.
The RTCL is a public legal entity and a state budgetary institution headed by the chairman.
The RTCL consists of 11 members: two members are appointed by the President of the Republic, three members (one of them from the opposition political groups) are appointed by the Seimas on the recommendation of the Committee on Culture, three members are appointed by the Lithuanian Association of Artists, one member – by the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference, one member – by the Lithuanian Journalists’ Union, and one member – by the Society of Lithuanian Journalists. The members of the Commission are appointed to serve for a period of four years and may not serve for more than two terms in succession.
Meetings are the main form of work of the RTCL, they are open to the public.
The activity of the RTCL is financed by 0.8% of the income of the regulated audiovisual media market players (except for the public service broadcaster) received from audiovisual commercial communications, advertising, subscription fees and other activities related to their services.
The RTCL’s mission to ensure that consumers have access to quality content, i.e. radio and television programmes that comply with statutory requirements, respect the principles of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, promote the diversity of opinions, development of democracy and citizenship, foster and protect national cultural values, and protect society against hate speech and incitement to war.
The objective of the RTCL is to create equal operating conditions for all market players overseen by the RTCL and protect the rights and legitimate interests of consumers of audiovisual media services.