Bakom: All households should have to pay TV and radio fees
In the future, television and radio license fees are set to become mandatory for all households. The Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) plans to propose this to the Federal Council, said Bakom Director Martin Dumermuth in an interview with the Berner Zeitung.
This would also mean that those without receivers would be asked to pay. According to Dumermuth, the term "reception device" is blurred today. This is because television reception is now often also possible with a PC or cell phone. This is why the obligation to pay fees must be redefined. According to SDA, Dumermuth had already made an announcement to this effect in the Sonntagszeitung newspaper in March.
Potential monthly savings of 35 centimes per household
However, Bakom is not interested in collecting more fees, continued Dumermuth. "If more households had to pay, it would be cheaper for the individual". In addition, the collection of fees would be simplified. Billag inspectors would then become superfluous. However, this would not save individual households much: if Billag reduced its overall costs by 20 percent, individuals would only save around 35 centimes per month, the Bakom Director calculated. Billag charges comparatively little money for fee collection. "Today, the cantons keep 17 percent of the federal tax revenue for levying and collection costs," said Dummermuth. Billag is considerably lower at just over 4 percent.
Potential monthly savings of 35 centimes per household
However, Bakom is not interested in collecting more fees, continued Dumermuth. "If more households had to pay, it would be cheaper for the individual". In addition, the collection of fees would be simplified. Billag inspectors would then become superfluous. However, this would not save individual households much: if Billag reduced its overall costs by 20 percent, individuals would only save around 35 centimes per month, the Bakom Director calculated. Billag charges comparatively little money for fee collection. "Today, the cantons keep 17 percent of the federal tax revenue for levying and collection costs," said Dummermuth. Billag is considerably lower at just over 4 percent.
