The Broadcast Commission has made a decision on whether Premier Jennifer Smith's address to the nation in February was a political broadcast and violated regulations.

The Commission expects to finish writing up the decision in a week, said Commission head Tim Marshall, yesterday.

In February, the Premier called for national solidarity and urged Bermudians to make a personal pledge to support the Island in its efforts to resurrect tourism and survive post-September 11 global realities.

In her 12-minute speech, which was broadcast by both television stations, she also criticised shadow tourism minister David Dodwell, saying he had said that the September 11 attacks on the United States had not impacted on the performance of tourism.

The Opposition United Bermuda Party questioned whether it was a political broadcast, paid for by the taxpayers, and made a formal complaint to the Broadcast Commission, which adjudicates such matters.

Proceedings began March 20 and a decision was originally expected to be made by the end of April, but the hearing was delayed by a request by media organisations that it be opened to the public.

The Commission ruled to keep the public out, but then had to determine the specific role of the broadcasting stations in the circumstances leading up to the disputed broadcast.

In April 1999, the Broadcast Commissioners ruled against the Government when the UBP asked it to make a ruling on its "First 100 Days" broadcast. The Commission ruled then that the programme was over the time limit for a Government broadcast, breached a rule on political neutrality and that references to the Opposition came "dangerously close" to breaking the same rule.

It also banned a second scheduled programme from airing that same month and criticised both television stations as well as Government Information Services, which was involved in making the programme, for not doing their part in ensuring the rules were followed.

This time around the broadcasting stations have been grilled by the Commission as to their role in making sure that rules were not being breached leading to speculation that the stations, and not the Government, will be held to account if it is found that the rules were broken.