National Council and Council of States in favor of device-independent reception fees
In the future, even those who do not own a radio or television set will be required to pay radio and television license fees. Following the National Council, the Council of States also voted in favor of this measure on Wednesday. However, the Council of States would like to exempt small businesses from the license fee requirement.
The current system is no longer up to date because radio and television programs can also be received via cell phones and computers. However, when the federal government announced that it would charge fees for reception via cell phone and computer in future, this met with criticism. At the behest of Parliament, the Federal Council presented alternatives - and argued that in future every household and every business should pay radio and TV fees. The industry protested, which in turn led to motions in parliament.
Avoid "unfair double burdens"
According to the SDA, everything will now revolve around the question of exemptions for businesses. Both councils are now demanding - in line with the Federal Council - fees that are not dependent on devices. However, the Council of States wants small businesses to be exempt from the obligation to pay fees. It has amended a corresponding motion from the National Council. The Council of States would like to exempt small commercial, manufacturing, service and agricultural businesses from the obligation to pay fees. Christoffel Brändli (SVP/ GR) said that this would avoid "unfair double charges". This refers, for example, to farmers whose business is also a private household.
However, it remains to be seen how exactly the exceptions will be defined. It is clear that there will be demarcation problems, said Brändli. It will be up to the Federal Council to specify the exceptions. However, there were also critical voices against special rules. It was no secret where this concern came from, said Peter Bieri (CVP/ZG). The trade association's tones were "loud and aggressive". The appeals for a boycott of fees and the general agitation against Billag, which was merely fulfilling its legal mandate, were "not a sign of a mature understanding of the state".
Many black listeners and viewers among the companies
Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard was also annoyed by the industry's protest: "Today, only a fraction of businesses pay the license fees. In the case of TV fees, only 28,000 out of around 300,000 businesses pay them. The situation is different for private households: Over 90 percent pay radio and TV fees. Due to the large number of black listeners and viewers among businesses, the Federal Council also expects fees to fall under the new system, by around CHF 100, with no exception for small businesses. Today, the fees for radio and TV reception amount to CHF 462 per year.
According to the Federal Council, only socially disadvantaged people should be exempt from the fees. However, Leuthard expressed her willingness to accept the wishes of Parliament: The Federal Council would submit a proposal regarding exemptions for businesses. (SDA)
