It sounds like a simple question, but what is a television?
Some of you are thinking “that box/flat yoke in the corner/on the wall” but that isn’t the full answer. At the moment. Legally. You see, I lived for years without a TV. I had broadband, and who needs a TV when you have YouTube. And now RTÉ and TV3 have their flash based players so you have even less need to buy a TV. Or a TV license. Unless they change the law… Oh they are changing the law.
Spotted by Stochastic Geometry it appears that the 2008 Broadcasting Bill is (still) going through the final stages of the Oireachtas defines a “Television set” (on page 142, Part 9 line 37)
“television set” means any electronic apparatus capable of receiving
and exhibiting television broadcasting services broadcast for general
reception (whether or not its use for that purpose is dependent on 40
the use of anything else in conjunction with it) and any software or
assembly comprising such apparatus and other apparatus;
OK, what has this to do with pop culture? Well its that last line…
“software or assembly comprising such apparatus”
What can pick-up a show from RTÉ (let’s keep it simple shall we)?
TV card in the computer? Easy, old definition applies as you’re picking up the broadcast signal. You need a license.
Any PC with a broadband connection can pick up RTÉ, via the player? If your mobile phone can handle a WiFi internet connection, or if mobile broadband can do it… you have a device which matches the new description. And its the “can do” which qualifies the device for the law.
There is a little clause in there, that the Minister can choose to ignore a particular class of device. So there is a get out clause. If the government don’t need the money.
Oh. They do.
Would people get rid of their broadband and mobiles (or get old models) to beat the license?
So, basically the Irish government are trying to covertly license our PC’s and other electronic devices?
They know the days of the traditional TV set are numbered so they’re trying to squeeze more money from us.
No doubt there’ll be a tidy increase in the license fee to coincide.
Such a load of bollox.
I dont’ agree with the TV licence as it is - not because I think it’s wrong in principal and not even solely because of the amount of ads anyone who watches RTE is subjected to (At least the BBC know better).
I disagree with the current TV licence as it forces paid membership to a network that wouldn’t know a quality Irish Show entertainment show if it came up and bit it on it’s ass.
I don’t watch RTE- I choose not to (apart from The Panel) - Can I opt out? No. (They apologise to the Government for broadcasting the news for christ’s sake - can anyone say police state?)
Now they want to enforce their communist regime on Computer users too? Maybe this could be Ryan Airs new tact - You don’t want to fly with us? No problem - we’re going to charge you for the service anyway. And the state will support us and haul you into court if you don’t pay.
Darren, not exactly what I’m saying. The days of traditional TVs (and the EMF signal the detector vans find) are limited. Something is going to replace it.
Was there a radio licence?
Lottie. Sorry I put you in a bad mood.
Now, a broadband tax (I can’t see a mobile phone tax, but it would stop unregistered “pay-as-you-go” phones. So there goes anonymity) would be possible. But would have a chilling effect on business.
It would also kill free wifi in a lot of places. And may halt (or roll-back) mobile broadband in this country (worst case scenarios here folks)
An actual computer tax? Possible. But an iPod Touch, (no flash player as far as I know but…) it can pick up youtube. It may qualify. Its not a computer (PDA is the closest definition), can it be taxed?
Of course a laptop is mobile. The TV licence is based on location, so moving the device around will cause huge headaches.
A device tax (to cover the touch, and the mobile) would be hard to enforce. Roaming visitors would also make things really hard. (Can see tourism groups lobbying against this one. I think these groups could limit access for RTÉ crews if they wanted to).
The minister still has that opt-out. Care to lobby?
@Will - I’m making the banners as I type. I’m multi-taskerific like that.
All I know is that they ain’t getting €160 from me just because I have several things that could access the Internet…
If you already have a TV licence, then you are fine, as the TV licence will cover your household.
This really only affects people who don’t have a TV (or a TV tuner in their PC, etc) at the moment.