Poland - Media

All communications services are government owned and operated; however, a privatization process is underway. In 1998 there were 8 million main line telephones and 1.7 million mobile cellular phones.

In 1995 the three national radio networks were Polskie Radio, Radio Solidarnesc, and Radio Z, and television programming was broadcast by Telewizja Polskie. As of 1998, there were 14 AM and 777 FM radio stations. As of 1995, there were 179 television stations. In 2000, there were about 523 radios and 400 television sets for every 1,000 people. The same year, there were about 69 personal computers in use for every 1,000 people, with 19 Internet service providers serving about 3.5 million users in 2001.

The largest Polish daily newspapers, with 2002 circulations, include the following:

	CIRCULATION
Trybuna Slaska	800,000
Gazeta Wyborcza	(wkend) 686,000
Dziennik Zachodni	510,000
Express Wieczorny	400,000
Zycie Warszawy	(wkend) 460,000
Express Illustrowany	370,000
Gazeta Poznanska	(wkend) 320,000
Gazeta Robotnicza	315,000
Rzeczpospolita	280,000
Czas Krakowski	(wkend) 260,000
Sztandar Mlodych	250,000

Though the constitution provides for free speech and a free press, there are some restrictions on these rights. The Penal Code prohibits speech which publicly insults or ridicules the Polish state or its principal organs; it also prohibits advocating discord or offending religious groups. Though the media are not censored, they may be subject to prosecution under these and other penal codes.