This article by Sally Burch has been reprinted with permission

On June 25, 2013, Ecuadors new Organic Communications Law came into force, after more than four years of debates and delays. Attacked by the mainstream press, both nationally and across the hemisphere, as a "gag" on freedom of expression, this new law in fact reflects in essence the proposals developed over more than two decades by movements supporting the democratization of communications, guarantees for diversity and plurality, and the need to regulate the media in the public interest.

As this small Latin American country has come onto the global radar due to whistle-blower Edward Snowdens application for political asylum, and is now under attack from the media cartels because of a supposed "double standard" regarding freedom of expression, it is worthwhile to clarify the scope and origins of this new law.

As expressed on the day of the parliamentary vote (June 14) by Mauro Andino, main proponent of the new law and National Assembly Member from the (governing) PAIS Movement, the spirit of this law both recognizes "the enormous value and the importance of freedom of expression formulated in international instruments of human rights," while it also adds to this "a series of opportunities and services in order for that freedom to really exist for everyone, so that it ceases to be a privilege enjoyed only by those better situated in our society."

Read the rest of the article, Ecuadors New Communications Law: A Democratic Model? , at Truth-out.org