RTV subscription causes huge controversy among Poles. All because it forces you to pay a fee (not a small one anyway) not only for the actual viewers and receivers of radio stations, but also for all owners of devices that theoretically allow you to receive a TV or radio signal. Ombudsman Marcin Wiącek has an idea to solve this problem, but it will certainly not appeal to… the citizens themselves.
RTV subscription for smartphones and computers. The OP has an idea
The problem with the already very outdated rules on downloading a subscription is not new, which has also been signaled by the Ombudsman for a long time. At the end of last year, Marcin Wiącek even asked Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to adapt the regulations to modern times.
that the subscription act dates from 2005 (almost 18 years old) and does not take into account many devices that Poles currently have. Television and radio can be received, for example, on smartphones, tablets and computers, although their owners are not covered by the subscription (unless they also have a TV or radio). According to the Ombudsman, this fact means that the fee does not burden all citizens equally and violates the principle of universal subscription, therefore the regulations should be adapted to today’s realities.
At the same time, the Ombudsman pointed out that he receives complaints about attempts by Poczta Polska to collect fees incorrectly or too overzealously from citizens (eg those who gave up their TV sets or moved abroad). There were also mistakes (coincidence of names) and attempts to collect the fee for the period when the fee was no longer due.
Deputy Minister Gliński replies: this requires a calm debate
Piotr Gliński, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage, responded to the Ombudsman’s letter now. The politician of the ruling party pointed out that, according to the Act, a radio or television receiver is a technical device adapted to receive a program. It is up to the National Broadcasting Council to determine which devices are referred to in the Act. However, he admitted that this definition is imprecise.
Deputy Prime Minister Gliński did not directly refer to the proposal to update the regulations or extend the subscription to include smartphones, tablets and computers. “The issue of improving the legal mechanisms in force in this area requires a detailed and calm public debate, which could result in a change in the legal regulation regarding the method of financing the missionary activities of public media” – he added, quoted by the portal.
Source: Gazeta
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