Business Association Opposes Billag Reception Fees
The dispute between Billag and the Trade Association over reception fees is entering its second round and is taking its opposition to radio and TV fees a step further. It also supports those small and medium-sized enterprises that have already registered their devices with Billag.
The association recommends that businesses that have already registered their receiving devices with the Billag collection agency remove the devices. They should notify Billag of this—along with a request to delete the corresponding data. The Swiss Trade Association (SGV) has posted a second sample letter on its website. A first sample letter had already been available online since mid-February. This allows business owners to bar Billag inspectors from their premises. According to the SGV, this letter has already been downloaded 2,000 times. However, Billag has received only 41 letters so far, as Billag spokesperson Jonny Kopp stated on Friday in response to an inquiry from the SDA news agency.
Werner Marti, chairman of the Billag board of directors, will now take charge of resolving the conflict. As the SDA further reports, media spokesperson Kopp expects that talks will take place between Marti and the leadership of the trade association. Opposing the fees merely increases the administrative burden and will ultimately end up costing individual business owners more, Marti said in an interview with the *Tages-Anzeiger* on Friday.
The reason for the business owners' frustration is a recommendation by the Federal Council that, under the new rules, even those who do not own a radio or TV set should pay radio and TV license fees.
Werner Marti, chairman of the Billag board of directors, will now take charge of resolving the conflict. As the SDA further reports, media spokesperson Kopp expects that talks will take place between Marti and the leadership of the trade association. Opposing the fees merely increases the administrative burden and will ultimately end up costing individual business owners more, Marti said in an interview with the *Tages-Anzeiger* on Friday.
The reason for the business owners' frustration is a recommendation by the Federal Council that, under the new rules, even those who do not own a radio or TV set should pay radio and TV license fees.
