Madam, – Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte is proposing to widen the scope of the TV licence to include laptops and other computer equipment (Home News, April 6th). This is an extension of an out-dated method of charging for TV services. The method of enforcing it (threatening people using TV and other advertising) is reminiscent of the methods used to collect tithes or land rents in the 19th century.
The proper thing to do is to abolish the licence and allow RTÉ to charge a subscription for its services in the same way that other TV companies do. If people want the service they will pay for it.
The idea that RTÉ provides a valuable and irreplaceable public service is laughable. The greatest public service provider in the media today is the internet and it’s free.
If the government wants to provide “public service broadcasting” let them invite tenders for it. That way it would be transparent and comply with European competition law. The Minister needs to realise that we are in the 21st century and things have changed radically since 1960. – Yours, etc,