[Upd-discuss] Compulsory Computing License in Denmark

[Seth Johnson]

(Machine translation from Danish.  -- Seth)


> http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=457668
 	

Now you have to pay licence fee for the computer


By Michael Lund

Now it has to cost to see TV in the computer. - Arkivfoto: Thomas
Borberg


Henceforth that will cost over 2.000 DKK per annum to have a
computer with net-access. That is one of the results of the
media-deal. 

More and more Danes see TV on the computer. Therefore it has to
really be included of the licence-arrangement.

It says in the new media-deal, which a wide parliamentary
majority in morning agreed on.

The licence will rise

The new media-licence include all devices, that are in a position
to receive picture-programmes and services, under here computers
and certain cell phones, it says in the deal.

The media-licence will be at level with the present colour
tv-licence, and it'll in the period 2007-2010 follow the general
price and payrise.

Thus that will by estimate cost 1.075 DKK every six months in
2007 and 1.130 DKK every six months in 2010.

In return all licence-liable devices are in the household then
also included.

Financially badly placed pensioners as well as blind and
weak-sighted persons want to still have possibility of
licence-reduction or - exemption.

Victory for Plummer

The new media-licence is a victory for Danmarks Radio.

The station's director general, Kenneth Plummer, has hotly argued
for to extend the licence and has earlier said that DR stands to
lose 30 millions of DKK in 2006, because about 15.000 Danes do
not see TV on the computer, and therefore any licence fee doesn't
pay.

No to off-report

On the other hand DR didn't offer through the wish, that viewers
actively have to off-report themselves licence. Henceforth one
has to still oneself register as use in order to pay licence fee.

The question has been one of the decisive knots in the
negotiations - both the Social Democrats, the radical ones and
Minister of Cultural Affairs Brian Mikkelsen par-l K par-r has
wished a frameldings-model, where all households automatically
pay licence fee, unless one actively signs up off.

But resistance from several prominent Liberal politicians has led
to, that the suggestion was dropped.

Ones With the deal the fact that DR has to establish a digital
combinedly children's-/history channel, as well as send newses in
widespread language with immigrants and fugitives, struggles and
fugitives.

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Nu skal du betale licens for computeren


Fremover vil det koste over 2.000 kr. årligt at have en computer
med netadgang. Det er et af resultaterne af medieforliget.

Flere og flere danskere ser tv på computeren. Derfor skal den nu
også omfattes af licensordningen.

Det fremgår af det ny medieforlig, som et bredt folketingsflertal
i formiddag blev enige om.

Licensen vil stige
Den ny medielicens omfatter alle apparater, der er i stand til at
modtage billedprogrammer og -tjenester, herunder computere og
visse mobiltelefoner, fremgår det af forliget.

Medielicensen vil være på niveau med den nuværende
farve-tv-licens, og den vil i perioden 2007-2010 følge den
generelle pris- og lønstigning.

Dermed vil det anslået koste 1.075 kr. halvårligt i 2007 og 1.130
kr. halvårligt i 2010.

Til gengæld er samtlige licenspligtige apparater i husstanden så
også omfattet.

Økonomisk dårligt stillede pensionister samt blinde og
svagtseende personer vil fortsat have mulighed for
licensnedsættelse eller -fritagelse.

Sejr for Plummer
Den ny medielicens er en sejr for Danmarks Radio.

Stationens generaldirektør, Kenneth Plummer, har argumenteret
varmt for at udvide licensen og har tidligere udtalt, at DR står
til at miste 30 millioner kr. i 2006, fordi omkring 15.000
danskere ser tv på computeren, og derfor ikke betaler licens.

Nej til framelding
Derimod kom DR ikke igennem med ønsket om, at tv-seere aktivt
skal framelde sig licens. Fremover skal man fortsat selv tilmelde
sig som bruger for at betale licens.

Spørgsmålet har været en af de afgørende knaster i
forhandlingerne - både Socialdemokraterne, de radikale og
kulturminister Brian Mikkelsen (K) har ønsket en
frameldingsmodel, hvor alle husstande automatisk betaler licens,
med mindre man aktivt melder sig fra.

Men modstand fra flere fremtrædende Venstre-politikere har ført
til, at forslaget blev droppet.

Med forliget slås det også fast, at DR skal etablere en digital
kombineret børne/historie-kanal, samt sende nyheder på udbredte
sprog hos indvandrere og flygtninge.