GROPPERA RADIO AG AND OTHERS v. SWITZERLAND JUDGMENT
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D. Switzerland’s representations
39. The Swiss Government never jammed the broadcasts from the Pizzo
Groppera in order to stop them. They did, however, make approaches to the
Italian authorities and to the International Telecommunication Union.
1. The approaches to the Italian authorities
40. Two delegations, one Swiss and one Italian, met in Berne on 29 and
30 November 1979 to study the "problem of external transmitters situated
on Italian territory and broadcasting programmes to Switzerland". The
minutes of the meeting mentioned the following points:
"1. The Italian delegation confirmed that on 22 November 1979 the ‘Ministero delle
Poste e delle Telecomunicazioni’ sent a warning to the Belton company (Signor
Fedele Tiranti) in Como, and receipt of the document was acknowledged on 23
November. The document stated that the transmitter had to confine the scope of its
activities to Italian territory. Those in charge of the station had seven days in which to
comply with this order, failing which their transmitter would be put out of action
(disattivazione). The Swiss delegation expected immediate action. In accordance with
the agreements concluded in Rome on 22 and 23 October 1979, the Italian delegation
assured the Swiss delegation that the Italian Post and Telecommunications Authority
would pursue the course of action already embarked on with the despatch of the
warning (diffida), in order to halt the broadcasts to Switzerland. The Swiss delegation
stated nonetheless that if nothing was done by 20 December 1979 and if the broadcasts
still continued, the case would have to be submitted to the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU).
2. As regards the external transmitters which were disrupting broadcasting in
Switzerland, some measure of agreement was reached. The Italian side had already
taken measures to implement the rules in force. One transmitter had even temporarily
ceased functioning. Future arrangements would be examined on a case-by-case basis
by the representatives of the two authorities, i.e. Mr Blaser for Switzerland and Mr
Cito for Italy.
3. The Swiss delegation insisted on measures being taken, in accordance with the
international agreements, against other transmitters sited in Italy which broadcast
programmes intended mainly for Switzerland. The Italian delegation, which was
willing to settle the problem in accordance with its international commitments, said
that it could not for the time being participate in any official co-ordination procedure,
mainly because there was currently no legal basis for it.
4. The Swiss delegation confirmed its position vis-à-vis the international agreements
and stressed the need for them to be applied unrestrictedly by the co-signatory
countries.
5. Given the importance of the issues in question, the two delegations decided to
continue their negotiations early in 1980."