247 - Valter Pomar, a member of the PT's national leadership, criticized on Thursday the statements of the Minister of Communications, Paulo Bernardo, who finds it "incomprehensible" that the party mixes media regulation with investments. The PT minister repudiated a regulatory framework for newspapers and magazines.
The criticisms were made through their blog"If we were to adopt the term 'incomprehensible' used by the minister, we could say that what is incomprehensible is postponing the regulatory framework to an uncertain future," criticized the Workers' Party leader. "By reducing regulation only to issues of combating discrimination and promoting regional diversity, the minister capitulates to a de facto situation that only benefits the status quo," he added.
Read the text below:
Regarding the statements made by Minister Paulo Bernardo
It is the minister's right to criticize the PT, just as it is the PT's right to criticize decisions made by the ministry headed by Paulo Bernardo.
But there are ways and ways to exercise reciprocal rights.
The minister's interview labels the PT's position as "incomprehensible."
Incomprehensible, for what reason?
In our opinion, the minister considers it "incomprehensible" because, in his view of things, he separates what is part of the same universe.
In the world of digital convergence, it is no longer possible to discuss democracy in the media without discussing the telecommunications companies.
Telecom companies that offer terrible service will benefit from tax breaks and exemptions.
As we know, reducing taxes does not guarantee the desired reduction in prices charged.
The current plan from the Ministry of Communications does not guarantee universal and high-quality broadband, as advocated by the National Communications Conference.
To extend this right to all Brazilians, the best path seems to us to be to recover and revitalize Telebrás.
Another path, which seems to be preferred by the minister, is to bet all or almost all of the chips on the private sector.
If we were to adopt the term "incomprehensible" used by the minister, we could say that what is incomprehensible is postponing the regulatory framework to an uncertain future.
By declaring to O Estado de S. Paulo that "regulation is not easy," and by reducing regulation solely to issues of combating discrimination and promoting regional diversity, the minister capitulates to a de facto situation that only benefits the status quo.
In other words, it benefits the companies that form the oligopoly that controls mass communication in Brazil.
This topic is extensively discussed in the deliberations of the National Communication Conference, in the demands of social movements, and in the resolutions of the Workers' Party.
The party to which Minister Paulo Bernardo is affiliated.
The Brazilian media system is oligopolized, highly concentrated both vertically and horizontally, and entirely focused on profit-making, to the detriment of its social functions.
It produces low-quality content, even contradicting the timid provisions of the Federal Constitution, and has been taking sides against the democratization of Brazilian society.
In England, the media is being regulated again. Why can't that happen in Brazil, comrade and minister Paulo Bernardo?
National Directorate of the Leftist Articulation
March 19th, 2013
