On Thu, May 7, 2009 at 10:57 AM, Philip Creevy <tiger98 at iol.ie> wrote:
> I don't know if anybody has seen this yet.
> Is it a realistic view of the bill.
I think its an interpretation, whether valid or not, I can't say, I
tend to believe not.
I think the aim of the bill is quite simple. The law was to licence a
set capable of reciving and displaying tv signal. If terrestrial TV is
switched off and digital tv takes over, then 99% of the TV's in the
country will not be capable of receiving a TV signal and displaying
it, and will need a set top box to receive the signal. Under the old
law, no licence fee for RTE, but under the new law, this "assembly" is
subject to licence.
This is a loophole in the previous law which is exploited by PC TV
card manufacturers, and TV signal receivers with vga outputs. I think
the bill changes are aimed at closing those holes and accomodating the
digital tv world rather than implementing an internet tax, as we are
entering a world where a TV is being reduced to the value of a screen,
and it will take an "assembly" to receive the TV signal and then
display it.
Paul.
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